Curve drop series opener to Fightins,11-5
Win: Nick Pivetta (2-3)
Loss: Matt Benedict (5-6)
Save: --
TOG: 2:44
Attendance: 3,391
CURVE, Pa. - The Altoona Curve surrendered five runs in the third and four runs in the sixth inning en route to an 11-5 loss to the Reading Fightin Phils on Monday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
The Curve (68-60) were outhit by the Fightin Phils (73-54), 17-9, and had a four-game winning streak snapped.
With Altoona leading 3-1 heading into the top of the third, J.P. Crawford hit a two-run triple off of Matt Benedict (Loss, 5-6) to even the score 3-3. The Fightin Phils went on to take the lead with an RBI ground out by Andrew Knapp. Consecutive RBIs by Brock Stassi and Destin Hood put Reading ahead, 6-3.
Reading jumped on the Curve in the first inning with a leadoff home run by Nick Williams. Jose Osuna connected on a three-run homer, his eighth of the year, in the bottom of the first inning.
Reading extended its lead with a run in the fourth and four runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Altoona added a run in the fourth and the ninth.
Nick Pivetta (Win, 2-3) allowed four runs (three earned) over seven innings while striking out five for Reading.
The 14 hits against Benedict tied the record for the most allowed by a pitcher in Altoona Curve franchise history, evening a mark set by Aaron Pribanic on June 17, 2011.
Reliever Robert Stock made his second appearance since joining the Curve and worked two scoreless innings.
Max Moroff finished the night 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI, while Erich Weiss added two hits and scored a run.
Williams went 4-for-6 with four runs scored and an RBI and Knapp knocked in five RBI for Reading.
The Curve remain two games ahea of Akron for second place in the E.L. Western Division and trail the first-place Bowie Baysox by 4.5 games.
Altoona and Reading continue the series on Tuesday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. Lefty Steven Brault (7-3, 2.51) makes the start for the Curve while right-hander Zack Eflin (7-6, 3.56) gets the start for the Fightin Phils.
The game will be followed by a fireworks show. It is a Two-for-Tuesday at the ballpark presented by Atlantic Broadband with 2-for-1 offers on tickets, hot dogs and small popcorn.
Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office.
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