Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Curve's Ivan Brethowr heads home on his two-run homerun.

While the Altoona Curve went 31-26 over the final 57 games of the first half, it didn’t mean a lot as far as the standings went because of starting out the season 0-12.

Tuesday served as a reset as the second half began in the Eastern League, and the Curve got off on the right foot in a 9-4 victory over the Reading Fightin Phils.

“Especially with the start to the season that we had, it’s good to get off to a good start with a new half,” Curve manager Andy Fox said. “It’s just nice to continue to play good baseball like we have the last few weeks.”

A crowd of 4,142 fans saw the Curve blast three home runs by Ivan Brethowr, Jack Brannigan, and Will Taylor. The Curve now have 70 home runs in 70 games, which is just a few homers off the pace of the franchise record of 143 homers set in 2022.

“We had our normal hitters’ meeting today, and that was the message from the coaches,” Brethowr said of starting off the second half. “We knew it was a rough start, but we bounced back really well. We did a heck of a job coming back from it. We have some momentum, and just try to keep it going.”

Altoona starter Matt Ager tossed five innings earned the win, allowing four earned runs on six hits, walked two and struck out.

Although Ager earned the win, it was the bullpen that shined out of the pitching as Cy Nielson, Emmanuel Chapman, and Jake Shirk combined to throw four scoreless frames and allowing just one hit.

After Reading struck first on an RBI single from Bryson Ware, Brethowr launched a 2-2 pitch deep down the left field line that traveled 404 feet, and landed near the top of the left field hill to give the Curve a 2-1 lead.

“I know he throws four-seams more with two strikes, and I was just looking for a ball up,” Brethowr said.

Brannigan gave the Curve the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth on a solo home run, while Taylor followed three batters later for another solo home run to center field.

All three struggled in the first half at times, but have shown flashes of power.

“You see the work they put in the cage, and try to stick to their process,” Fox said. “They got good pitches to hit and they took advantage of them.”

Reading starter Braydon Tucker, who has a 2.04 earned run average for the season, allowed three earned runs in 3ª innings. He walked three and struck out seven.

Jack Dallas was dealt the loss after allowing two home runs to Brannigan and Taylor.

Return of Griffin

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly announced before Tuesday’s game that shortstop Konnor Griffin would start a rehab assignment in Altoona this evening.

Griffin, who went on the injured list on May 31 with a right forearm flexor strain, endeared himself to Curve fans last season during the team’s playoff run. He played in just 21 games in Altoona last season, hitting .337 while leading the team to the Eastern League playoffs.

The 20-year-old was called up for the Pirates’ home opener on April 3 after spending just five games in Indianapolis to start the year. He was hitting .270 at the time he went on the IL.

“We just want to see him where he should be, and that’s back in Pittsburgh,” Fox said. “Let him do his thing here and get some work in, and hopefully help the big club.”

Up next

The series continues this evening when Curve southpaw Connor Oliver opposes Reading right-hander Gage Wood at 6 p.m. Wood was the Phillies’ first-round pick last year, and is ranked their No. 2 prospect by MLB.