Peterson, Akron hold Curve in check | News, Sports, Jobs

Akron has been a super villain over the course of the Curve’s franchise history, having defeated them 282 times in their 26 seasons entering Friday night — the most of any team they have played.

After what appeared to be a moment where they may have solved them on Friday night, RubberDucks hurler Austin Peterson thwarted the Curve’s hope, handing them a 4-2 setback before 4,733 fans at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

“He has a good fastball, we had trouble getting to it,” Curve manager Robby Hammock said. “He has nice extensions, really gets up on you. When you get a fastball that gets on you like that, off-speed in the zone, it makes for a tough day. He just was attacking with all of his pitches in the zone.”

Peterson struck out 10 batters in six innings, giving up two runs on three hits, including allowing a two-run home run to Joe Perez in the fifth inning that cut the Curve’s deficit to one.

Multi-hit night

The Ducks had three players register two base hits as Aaron Bracho went 2-for-5 with a double and RBI. Joe Lampe went 2-for-4 and knocked in a run while Milan Tolentino was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a double.

Davis at the plate

Pirates catcher Henry Davis struggled at the plate during his second rehab appearance, striking out three times in three plate appearances.

Friday was the second game he played since being assigned to the seven-day concussion injured listed on June 15.

The tentative plan is that he will be the designated hitter Saturday and could catch again on Sunday. That will depend on how his concussion symptoms are healing.

Change of pace

When a major leaguer is on rehabilitation, that can be a chance to see things differently.

Curve starting pitcher Thomas Harrington got that chance Friday in his five innings of work, allowing three runs — two earned — on seven hits while striking out six and walking one with Davis behind the plate.

Harrington enjoyed seeing how a major league catcher calls the game and seeing things that he may not have been aware of along the way.

“It definitely creates some confidence on the mound,” he said. “He sees stuff that I don’t see by experience. Overall, it was good getting to work with him.”

Hammock ejected

Hammock was tossed after the seventh inning. He took the Curve’s on-deck circle, dragged it and dropped it over home plate in the middle of Emmanuel Chapman’s warm-up tosses.

Hammock cited calls in a variety of situations that happened throughout the night, which led to his removal.

Bench coach Gary Green took over the managerial duties for the remainder of the game.

The weekend ahead

The Curve will send right-hander Po-Yu Chen Saturday night to the mound against the RubberDucks left-hander Parker Messick.

The Curve hope the force will be on their side as the club has its Star Wars promotion with a jersey-off-the-back option postgame.

Sunday night, Altoona righty Drake Fellows will pitch against Akron southpaw Ryan Webb.