The Altoona Curve couldn’t catch up to the Reading Fightin’ Phils in a 9-1 loss in front of 3,879 fans at PNG Field Friday night.

The Curve fell behind 2-0 after a first inning which saw a sacrifice fly and single bring home a run apiece.

Dominic Perachi started the game, but managed to complete only 2.1 innings in which he gave up two runs, walked two and struck out three.

It marked his first action for the Curve since May when he went on the Injured List.

“He just couldn’t command the ball in the strike zone,” Altoona manager Andy Fox said. “We couldn’t limit damage, and it’s one of those days where you just try to find a way, especially when you’re against a good starter and trying to limit damage.”

Emmanuel Chapman took over for Perachi in the third and gave up a run on four hits and a strikeout which gave Reading a 3-0 lead.

The Fightin’ Phils would add some insurance in the sixth courtesy of a three-run home run by Aroon Escobar off Altoona’s Cy Nielson to give them a 6-0 lead.

Callan Moss got the Curve on the board with their lone run in the bottom of the seventh, but it was a night of missed opportunities for the Altoona offense.

The Curve scattered 12 hits, but of those hits, only five were with runners in scoring position.

In eight of the nine innings, the Curve managed a hit and at least one runner to get on base. Of those hits, four were from the leadoff batter in the inning.

“I don’t know if you can scatter 12 hits any better than we did to really not put much pressure, but we actually swung the bats okay,” Fox said. “We just couldn’t string them together.”

Reading tacked on two more runs in the seventh and a run in the ninth to give them a 9-1 lead.

Taxing the pen

Prior to Friday’s game, the Curve activated Perachi off the Injured List. His 2.1 innings off work forced Fox to go to the bullpen early and often against the Fightin’ Phils.

The Curve used four pitchers in Nielson, Perachi, Chapman and Jake Shirk plus a position player in Samuel Escudero to get through the game.

“You’re just trying to manage the next couple days, that’s the biggest thing,” Fox said. “Obviously, if the score’s closer, we had somebody, but also you have to be smart, you don’t want to run Shirk too long, just him coming off his outing the other day. You don’t ever love using position players, but also our job is to take care of these guys, and make sure they don’t get hurt.”

Shirk was the lone bright spot as he pitched 1.2 innings and didn’t allow a run or walk while he struck out three.

Up next

Peyton Stumbo gets the nod for the Curve on Saturday night while Connor Oliver will start for Altoona on Sunday.