Trending
The Altoona Curve snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Chesapeake Baysox Thursday night in front of 3,996 fans at PNG Field.
"Coming after (Wednesday's) game, and being able to bounce back like this is huge," Altoona manager Andy Fox said. "We've done this a few times, but it's always good to see that."
Chesapeake got a run in the first inning off Pirates rehabbing pitcher Johan Oviedo on an RBI triple by Reed Trimble, but from there it was mostly the Curve offense doing the damage.
Altoona got on the board in the first after both Mike Jarvis and Nick Cimillo both reached and stole second and third, respectively. Kervin Pichardo singled them home to give the Curve a 2-1 lead.
Mitch Jebb tripled with two outs and scored on a fielding error by the Baysox's Alfredo Velasquez off the bat of Duce Gourson.
Another two-out rally was in store for Altoona in the bottom of the third. Omar Alfonzo doubled and Sammy Siani followed that up with a walk to put runners on first and second.
Jase Bowen singled home Alfonzo to put the Curve up 4-1 before Maikol Escotto singled home Siani to give them a 5-1 cushion.
It was all Altoona needed as the bullpen held up its end of the bargain throughout four innings of work.
"The bullpen has probably been our most consistent thing this year," Fox said. "You feel comfortable handing the ball to really any of those guys and then to shut them down and end up getting some length out of the bullpen and win the game."
Emmanual Chapman allowed two hits in one inning of action as he struck out two. He would give way to Ryan Harbin for a shutout seventh inning that was settled on nine pitches and featured two strikeouts.
In the eighth and ninth it was Wilkin Ramos who got the call. He allowed a run in the eighth, but slammed the door in the ninth as he struck out the side in order.
Oviedo's moment
Oviedo threw five innings in his second rehab stint.
He allowed one run on two hits in the first inning and slammed the door from thereafter.
"It's huge. I mean, not only for him, but for us too," Fox said. "I mean, two strikes, pound the zone, kept them off balance and was able to get through five which is a huge step in his rehab."
He recorded five strikeouts and allowed four hits as he works back from Tommy John surgery.
"Thankfully, we felt better today," Oviedo said. "We accomplished five innings. That's the longest I've been out there. So really glad that everything went well."
All has worked to plan for Oviedo who continues to check boxes on his journey back to the Majors.
"Feel good tomorrow. That's the first sign that I'm trying to look for," Oviedo said. "Definitely just trying to repeat five innings, trying to throw strikes, but be healthy is the main goal."
Oviedo has spent the week in Altoona after throwing a bullpen at PNC Park Monday afternoon. It's an experience that has not only helped his routine, but allowed his teammates and himself to pick each other's brains about their processes and development.
"It reminds me of all the things that you go through when you're trying to hit the goal, which is to make the big leagues," Oviedo said. "Definitely gives me a lot of humble feelings, all the things that you go through before you make it. A lot of people don't know how hard it is to be in the minor leagues and trying to perform and definitely grinding every day. There's a lot of things that you go through when you're trying to go up, so come here and see the guys grind it like we did, it's definitely a good feeling to actually be around."
What's next for Oviedo is yet to be determined, but Thursday's outing is another step in the right direction for him.
Up next
Altoona RHP Antwone Kelly takes the mound tonight. Kelly is 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA over four starts since joining the Curve.