CURVE, Pa. – The Curve dropped their first game of the second half in a 7-4 defeat to Reading in game three of the series Thursday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

Derek Berg logged his 12th multi-hit game of the season while P.J. Hilson tallied his eighth. The offense struggled with runners in scoring position as the Curve went 3-for-11 in those spots.

Altoona jumped into the lead in the top of the first on Callan Moss’ RBI single in the bottom of the first. Reading drew even in the second before Hilson re-took the lead with a single in the second. Reading took the lead for good in the fourth with two runs and added four more over the final four innings at the plate.

RHP Josh Loeschorn made his fifth start of 2026 and tossed three innings of one-run ball. Three arms from the Curve bullpen each surrendered two earned runs. Brandon Neeck, who took the loss, walked three and fanned three in his two innings. Alessandro Ercolani allowed his pair of runs on three hits and a walk in the sixth inning. Jaycob Deese finished the final three innings but gave up two long balls.