A crowd of 4,936 at Peoples Natural Gas Field saw the Curve only score one run off three Reading errors in the sixth inning. Altoona also left the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh when it was trailing, 6-4.

“We definitely had our chances, and we just couldn’t cash in,” Curve manager Andy Fox said. “We’ve been really good about doing that lately. Tonight we just couldn’t do it. But they kept adding on too. It made it a little tougher for us.”

Thursday’s projected starting pitcher was supposed to be Connor Wietgrefe, but Wietgrefe was called up to Triple-A Indianapolis earlier in the day and started for the Indians on Thursday evening. Wietgrefe allowed five earned runs on eight hits in six innings of work in his Triple-A debut.

Curve's Will Taylor is forced out by Reading second baseman Aroon Escobar on a double play. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Altoona went with a bullpen game in Wietgrefe’s place. Josh Loeschorn covered the first three innings, while Brandon Neeck, Alessandro Ercolani, and Jaycob Deese worked the final six frames.

“You always have guys ready in case something like this happens,” Fox said. “We had enough to get us through the game.”

Altoona scored one run in each of the first two innings. The first came on a Callan Moss RBI single, while the second came on a run-scoring single from P.J. Hilson.

Reading piled on Neeck and Ercolani, scoring twice in the fourth and sixth innings to take a 5-2 lead.

Reading’s Alex Binelas tagged Deese with a homer that went 424 feet to right field in the top of the seventh inning.

Derek Berg and Hilson both had two hits for the Curve.

Reading starter Luke Russo earned the win, allowing two earned runs on six hits in six innings.

A Double-A call-up

While it is rare in the Pirates’ organization, it happens sparingly across baseball where prospects will make the jump from Double-A to the majors. There was an exception on Thursday when Curve infielder Jack Brannigan was called up late last night to the Pirates for Thursday afternoon’s game in Pittsburgh.

Brannigan was a replacement for Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz, who went on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain.

Fox made the call to Brannigan on Wednesday evening at 11 p.m. It was the first time Fox got to share news that one of his players was going to the majors in a coaching career of over 20 years.

“I called him. I said, ‘Hey, you’re going to Pittsburgh.’ He said, ‘Are you serious?’ I said, ‘Yeah, this is not something that I would joke about,” Fox said with a laugh. “Get your stuff and get going.'”

Brannigan did not play in Thursday’s game. If and when he appears in a game, Brannigan would be the 11th Curve alumnus to make his major league debut this season.

“You see him go through the work and the grind and go through the ups and downs,” Fox said. “To get to the big leagues is a big accomplishment. Not a lot of people get to do it. He’s worked his tail off, and deserves it.”

Pennsylvania Continentals day

The Curve wore Pennsylvania Continentals jerseys on Thursday, which is a celebration of America250. Altoona will wear the jerseys once a month all season.

Up next

The series will continue this evening with a 6 p.m. first pitch. Altoona has yet to announce a starter, while the Fightin Phils will send lefty Adam Seminaris to the mound.