Offensive support continued for the Altoona Curve as they returned home on Monday, after a road trip that pushed the Pittsburgh Pirate affiliate back into the playoff picture. Just a night after Altoona set a season high in runs and franchise record 12-run winning margin, Curve starter Justin Reid benefited from an 11-run barrage over the first four innings and coasted to an 11-1 win over the Akron Aeros, the team with the best record in the Eastern League.
Local color highlighted the pregame activities with Autumn Smith of Tipton singing the National Anthem and the Warriors Mark Little League was the Field of Dreams team that took the field with the Curve players for the singing of the Anthem before the crowd of 5,098.
Akron will be around for 7:05 games today and Wednesday also, but the first of the three-game set is in the books for the Curve, who have now won 11 of their last 14 games.
Shawn Skrehot singled with one out, stole second base and scored on a single to left by Kevin Sefcik for the early 1-0 lead.
In the second, designated hitter Victor Rodriquez and Joe Caruso scratched infield singles and both scored on the first of two consecutive doubles by Curve catcher John Pachot.
“Lately, the opposite team has been thinking they have easy hitters at the bottom of our lineup,” said Pachot, who usually bats eighth or ninth when the Curve is able to use a DH. “They don’t concentrate on us so much and we take advantage of it. We stay aggressive all the way through the lineup and we get success.”
The Curve sent 10 batters to the plate in the third inning against Akron starter Jason Davis (1-1) who defeated Altoona at Akron for his first Double-A win on July 12, but bore the brunt of the Curve onslaught for six innings giving up all 11 runs, nine earned on 11 hits, walking a pair and striking out none.
Skrehot and Sefcik singled to open the third and with one out, Jason Garrett doubled to score both runners. Garrett wound up on third base on the play and scored on a wild pitch. J.J. Davis, honored as the Eastern League Player of the Week ending July 28, walked on four straight pitches. Rodriquez was safe on the only error of the game. Caruso, a Lock Haven High School grad, singled home Davis. Pachot’s second double scored Rodriquez and Tony Alvarez scored Caruso with an RBI groundout.
Justin Reid tossed the first eight innings for the Curve, allowing one run on five hits, fanning eight batters without issuing a walk to improve his record to 9-5 and lower his ERA to 4.24.
“That was the best command he’s had all year long,” said Curve manager Dale Sveum talking about his starting pitcher. “He went after them, threw a lot of strikes. He spotted his fastball in and out and had a really good breaking ball today. He was working downhill very well. I think Reid needed a wakeup call. I think it took some tough outings to give him that. I saw a lot more determined pitcher out there on that mound and even in the clubhouse before the game.”
Reid allowed only one Akron hitter to reach base over the first five innings, a two-out double by Aeros catcher Brian Luderer in the third. In the sixth, Maicer Izturis singled with two outs after Reid hit Troy Cameron to lead off the frame. Then in the eighth inning Izturis doubled, again with two outs. In each case, Reid retired Akron without allowing a run to be scored.
Akron scored their solo tally in the seventh on a Luis Garcia double and a looping single by Nate Crozier with two outs.
“I finally felt like I had good control of all my pitches,” said Reid, “which I was lacking in my previous starts. I kept the ball low and let my defense do the work. I have been struggling with my mechanics and my location, which is my strong suit. I have been working with (pitching coach) Bob Milacki in the bullpen on getting better downward plane on my ball and better mechanics. Fortunately it worked out tonight where everything was in sync and I was hitting my spots with all three pitches.”
J.J. Davis was honored as The Eastern League Player of the Week after batting .448 (13-for-29) with five home runs and 15 RBIs in nine games during the week for the Curve, which posted a 7-2 mark during that span.
The Pirates first round draft selection in the 1997 June draft out of Baldwin Park (California) High School got off to a slow start this year, including a month-long stint on the Disabled List due to a high ankle sprain. However, Davis is now enjoying a solid season in his second full year at Altoona, hitting .296 with 13 Homers and 39 RBIs in 67 games. Davis hit .250 with four home runs and 26 RBIs in 67 games for the Curve in 2001.
