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Pearce Promoted to Triple-A Following 6-3 Loss

July 29, 2007 - Eastern League (EL1) - Altoona Curve News Release


AKRON- Asdrubal Cabrera knocked in three of Akron's six runs to help the Aeros salvage the final game of a four-game against the Curve with a 6-3 win Sunday afternoon at Canal Park in Akron, OH.

The loss on the field wasn't the only loss suffered by the Curve on Sunday, as slugging first baseman Steven Pearce learned that he has been promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis following the game.

Pearce, the Pirates' eighth round draft pick in the 2005 June Draft out of the University of South Carolina, is in the middle of one of the finest offensive seasons in all of Minor League Baseball. The 24-year old, who opened the season at Class-A Lynchburg and hit .347 with 11 home runs and 24 RBI in 19 games before being promoted to Altoona on May 1, hit .334 with 14 homers and 72 RBI in 81 games in a Curve uniform.

Pearce leaves the Curve as the Eastern League's leader in both batting average and slugging percentage (.585 entering Sunday) and his 96 RBI's between Lynchburg and Altoona ranks first among all minor league hitters.

The Curve also announced that catcher Dave Parrish has been promoted to Indy. Pearce and Parrish will join the Indians for their game on Monday evening against the Durham Bulls (Devil Rays' AAA) at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

In Sunday's game, the Aeros, who dropped out of first place in the E.L. South after three consecutive losses to the Curve to open the series, scored five times against Altoona starter Jason Roach and cruised to the victory. Roach (4-3), who was making a spot start in place of recently-promoted right-hander Luis Munoz, was only charged with two earned runs after all three runs he allowed in the second inning were unearned because of a pair of Curve errors.

Trailing 5-0, Altoona scored single runs in the fifth and seventh innings to trim the Akron lead to 5-2 and brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh before Brandon Chaves grounded out to end the inning.

In the ninth, Javier Guzman singled home his second run of the game to cut Akron's advantage to 6-3, and Altoona once again sent the tying runs to the plate, but Reid Santos got Brian Peterson and Parrish for the final outs of the game.

Scott Lewis (3-8) allowed two runs over six innings to earn the win for the Aeros. Cleveland Indians' left-handed reliever Aaron Fultz made a one-inning rehab start for Akron and retired all three Curve batters he faced.

Guzman paced the Curve offense by going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI's. The switch-hitter enjoyed three multi-hit games in the four-game series.

Altoona (55-50) now trails the second-place Aeros (61-47) by 4 1/2 games in the wild-card race in the Southern Division. The Curve are 5 1/2 games behind the first-place Erie SeaWolves, who completed a four-game series sweep of last-place Harrisburg on Sunday afternoon.

The Curve will enjoy an off day Monday before returning to the diamond Tuesday night in the opener of a six-day, seven-game homestand at Blair County Ballpark. Altoona will face the Reading Phillies in Tuesday's 7:05 p.m. series opener. Lefty Josh Shortslef (2-11, 5.06) will start for the Curve against Reading righty Zack Segovia (3-2, 4.00).

Tuesday's ballpark activities will include the fifth installment of the Curve's popular "Awful Night" series. Great seats are still available for all games on the upcoming homestand and can be purchased by visiting the Curve Ticket Office at Blair County Ballpark or by calling (877) 99-CURVE. Tickets can also be purchased and printed from your home or office computer by CLICKING HERE.


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Eastern League Stories from July 29, 2007


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