Surging Curve Win Finale In Erie
Loss: Jared Wesson (7-11)
Save: Vic Black (13)
TOG: 2:24
Attendance: 3,846
ERIE, Pa. - A two-run second inning held up for the Curve in a, 2-1, win in their season finale with Erie at Jerry Uht Park on Monday afternoon. Altoona finishes the season having won six straight games overall, seven straight on the road and 13 of its last 16 since August 20. The late-season surge helped the Curve finish with a final record of 72-70.
The first of five-straight hits in the second inning came from Charlie Cutler in the form of a triple to deep right-center. Quincy Latimore followed Cutler's triple with a single that scored the Curve catcher from third and the Curve had the lead, 1-0. Latimore was able to reach second base on his single with center fielder Daniel Fields misplaying the ball for the only error of the game.
With Latimore on at second, Stefan Welch singled to move him to third for Evan Chambers, who also singled. Latimore scored and Welch went to second while Altoona went ahead, 2-0. Kelson Brown grabbed the fifth and final hit of the inning with a single and the Curve had the bases loaded with no one out.
SeaWovles' starter Jared Wesson (7-11) zoned in from there and retired Altoona's one through three hitters in order to end the inning with just two runs coming across. After the tough second, Wesson went on to finish seven innings while striking out a season-best 10 batters.
On the other side of the diamond, Brandon Cumpton (12-11) ended his season on a very strong note, tossing six innings of one-run ball while giving up just two hits for his 12th win of the season. He walked three and struck out three before turning it over to Hunter Strickland. Strickland pitched two scoreless innings with the help of a pair of double plays behind him before giving the ball to Vic Black for the ninth. Black faced four batters and ended the ballgame for his 13th save of the season.
In other news, departed Curve shortstop and current Pirates infielder Brock Holt appears to have wrapped up an Eastern League batting title with Darin Ruf of Reading falling short at .316. Holt was batting .322 at the time of his departure to Indianapolis and had enough plate appearances to qualify to win the batting title.
Brown finished today's game leading the team with four hits, going 4-for-4, while Cutler had the first multi-triple game of the season for the Curve.
Altoona's late-season surge enabled them to finish in third place in the Eastern League's Western division.
With the 14th season of Curve baseball now in the books, the team will eye season No. 15, which begins March 30, 2013 with the Pirates-Curve Exhibition scheduled for 2 p.m. at Peoples Natural Gas Field. Altoona officially returns to the field April 4, 2013 in Erie to open up the Eastern League schedule. The Curve home opener will come April 11, 2013 with a 6:30 p.m. game versus Harrisburg.
For more information on the Curve, including the team's Yuengling Oktoberfest 2012, the 2013 Pirates-Curve exhibition game, and 2013 season tickets, contact the Curve by calling 877.99.CURVE, stopping by the box office at the ballpark, or visiting www.AltoonaCurve.com.
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