Over the course of a 144-game season, there will be times when a team is short on pitching.

This week isn’t an ordinary one for the Altoona Curve as they play seven games in six days. Jared Jones is in town from the Pirates and will throw a second start for the team, too.

The Curve did a bullpen game on Wednesday morning after the first of Jones’ rehab appearances on Tuesday night, but unfortunately, ran out of pitching in the end in a 9-4 loss to the Harrisburg Senators at PNG Field.

Josh Loeschorn, Jaycob Deese, Jarod Bayless and Landon Tomkins worked the first eight innings, but didn’t have anyone else available to pitch the ninth inning in an 8-4 game. Samuel Escudero, a backup catcher who just got sent down from Triple-A Indianapolis Wednesday, made his debut as a pitcher in the ninth inning where he allowed one run on one hit.

In Major League Baseball, there is a rule that restricts position players from pitching until a team is losing by eight runs or more, or the game is in extra innings. There is no such rule in the minors.

“Our job is to keep these guys healthy and keep them for the long haul,” Curve manager Andy Fox said.

Loeschorn opened the game with three scoreless innings, and allowed just one hit. The Curve ran into trouble in the fourth when Jaycob Deese only got two outs on 39 pitches.

“The drawback is when guys can’t go multiple innings,” Fox said. “We ran into a problem there in the fourth. Deese couldn’t get through it. Knowing we have another bullpen game tomorrow in the second game, we just have to be smart.”

Harrisburg got five runs in the top of the fourth off Deese, and three more off Tomkins in the eighth before going to Escodero for the final three outs.

Curve get to lefty

For the first three innings, Harrisburg starting pitcher Shinnosuke Ogasawara was perfect. He struck out four the first time through the order.

But the Curve teed off on him in the fourth inning with four runs on three hits, and drew three more free passes against the southpaw that made his Major League debut last year for the Washington Nationals. A 5-0 game turned into 5-4 and a chance for the Curve to get back into it.

Ogasawara, who also had a lengthy career in his native country Japan before coming to the US, appeared in 23 games and made two starts last year. He had a 6.98 earned run average as a big leaguer over 38ª innings.

“We were able to make some adjustments the second time around,” Fox said. “We put some pressure on them. We gave up five and to make it a 1-run game — I give this group credit. They keep plugging.”

No leadoff woes

Curve infielder Keiner Delgado has found himself a home at the top of the batting order.

Delgado, who was acquired from the New York Yankees in 2024 in the JT Brubaker trade, went 3 for 4 with a double, and is now hitting .286 for the season. He’s also drove in 13 runs in the last 15 games.

“He’s gaining some confidence,” Fox said. “He’s putting together some good at-bats. He has a track record of that. He’s always had a good eye. He’s obviously having some success now and keeping with his approach, which is the big thing.”

Education day

The 11 a.m. first pitch, which draws mostly school students a few weeks before summer break, drew 6,041 fans.

Up next

The Curve and Senators will play a doubleheader today at 5 p.m. In a rare occasion, the Curve will be the away team in one game as the make-up game was postponed in Harrisburg on April 25.

Khristian Curtis will start the first game for the Curve against Harrisburg righty Kyle Luckham. The Senators will send Connor Van Scoyoc out for the second game. Altoona has not yet named a starter.