(READING, Pa)----Ricardo Pinto held the Altoona Curve (62-50) to just three hits over eight innings of work on Saturday, but Altoona rallied to score a pair of runs over the ninth and tenth innings of the game to defeat the Reading Fightin Phils (75-38), 2-1, in front of 7,771 fans at FirstEnergy Stadium.



Fightins starting pitcher Ricardo Pinto was effective from the get-go, allowing just three hits and one run over eight innings. He also struck out six batters. After giving up a leadoff single to Elvis Escobar in the first inning, Pinto went on to retire 15 straight hitters before surrendering a double to Christopher Diaz in the 6th inning.



Pinto exited the game in the ninth inning after Anderson Feliz, the game-tying run, singled to lead off the inning. In the next at-bat, Feliz advanced to second base when Elvis Escobar reached base via catcher's interference. Eric Wood hit an RBI single off Hoby Milner to tie the game and send the game to extra innings. In the 10th inning, the Curve took the lead after Jonathan Schwind scored after Feliz dribbled a ground out in the infield.



The game marks the third straight game where Pinto has held opponents to two earned runs or less.



Reading's powerful offense was held scoreless through the 6th inning until Fightins first baseman Rhys Hoskins slugged his 34th home run of the season to left field to break a scoreless tie. With his 34th home run, Hoskins moves into a tie for third with Hal Jones (1960) among the franchise's single-season home run leaders. He is just four shy of Darin Ruf's record 38 home runs hit in 2012. The 34 home runs also lead all of Minor League Baseball.



Roman Quinn, Dylan Cozens, and Jorge Alfaro each finished with two singles in the loss.



Eastern League wins leader Nick Pivetta looks for his 11th win of the season on Sunday afternoon at 5:05 p.m. when the Fightins look for the series win over LHP Cody Dickson (9-3/3.74 ERA) and the Western Division leading Curve.



Single game tickets and playoff strips for the Fightin Phils 50th season affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies are available now by visiting Fightins.com, by calling 610-370-BALL, or by stopping by the Fightins Ticket Office located at FirstEnergy Stadium.