Jose Tabata ”Absolutely Mastering AA”, Dumatrait Rehab Tomorrow at Altoona

Jose Tabata is tearing up AA baseball.  Just a few months ago, not many thought that would be possible.  In Tabata’s last ten games, he is hitting .400 with 16 hits, 7 runs, 5 doubles, a triple and 4 RBI.  It’s time for a promotion.

We wrote yesterday that the Pirates are in hell.  Well, sure in the game of baseball, yes they are. The losing will continue until your morale improves at the major league level, or something like that…

But Tabata lived through hell off the field earlier this season.

No need to relive the details here, you know what they are.  Many thought this would be a wasted year for the man whose 21st birthday is only 13 days away.

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

It was Thirsty Thursday last night at Blair County Ballpark where the Curve earned a series and twinbill split.  Daniel Moskos evened his record at 8-8 with 5ip and 2runs allowed as the Curve took the opener with a 2-1 victory. 

In the nightcap, Curve southpaw Kyle Bloom had a stretch where he retired ten Binghamton Mets in a row.  Then the wheels fell off.  The Curve lost 5-1, but not without an exciting final inning.

Jose Tabata hit the ball hard and remained white hot with a streak of 25 hits in last 29 games.  After going 1-for-3 in the opener, Tabata had a seven game hitting streak snapped in the nightcap.  The big quote of the night was when Curve Radio announcer said ‘Tabata is absolutely mastering AA baseball.’ 

It was nice to hear positive news on Tabata.  Pirate fans need some good news.

Pedro Alvarez took an 0-for-3 in the first game.  In the night cap, 8-for-37 against southpaws this year, Alvarez hit a ball off left hander Mike Antonini into right field and turned it into a hustling double.  Alvarez was 2-for 3 raising his average to .286.

Gorkys Hernandez threw out what would have been the third run of the game in the fifth inning with what was described as a great throw. 

The Curve fell behind as the BMets grabbed a 2-1 lead in the fifth off Bloom (5ip, 2r, 3 hits, 2bb, 1 hbp, 3 strikeouts).

Gorkys struck out with the tying run on base in the fifth.

Sean Smith had an uncharacteristic sixth inning for the Curve as Ike Davis hit his eighth homer a two run shot to put the BMets up 4-1.  Lucas Duda follwed with his ninth homer of the year that nearly hit the coaster in Lakemont Park.

But in the last inning, Gorkys, who was 0-for-10, in the series earned a walk to load the bases.

The drama was quickly over, however, when Brian Friday grounded deep in the hole at short and Jason Delaney was called out in a bang bang play when the shortstop threw the ball to third base. 

This call left Jose Tabata in the on deck circle not able to have an impact on the game.

It would have been incredibly entertaining to see Tabata continue his mastery…..or turn it over to Alvarez.  He does pretty well in clutch situations.

But for now, we will have to wait Pirate fans.  Soon enough, soon enough…

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I listened on the internet. KMan, Ron and Dan do an excellent job, be sure to tune in and here is the Curve Radio Link for tomorrow night.  If you want to listen in on Phil Dumtrait’s rehab it’s a 7:05 start. 

The Curve welcome the  Trenton Thunder-NY Yankees farm club this weekend.  The Thunder have lost five games in a row.  If you head up to Altoona, the first 2,000 fans get a sweet looking cap.  If you take pictures while you are in Altoona, please let us know and we will get them up on Rumbunter for the world to see.