Staumont shows verve with swing-and-miss curve in AFL

While Josh Staumont’s chances of posting an ERA of 0.00 in the Arizona Fall League came to an end on Saturday, the Royals’ No. 10 prospect still was plenty good for Surprise in a 10-8 win over Glendale.

Staumont permitted his first earned run of the Fall League, allowing two hits and three walks over 3 1/3 innings for the Saguaros. Through three starts, the 22-year-old right-hander has pitched to a 0.87 ERA and surrendered just five hits in 10 1/3 innings.

“This was the first five-day rotation start I’ve had in a while, so there was a little bit of rust to shake off,” Staumont said after the game.

• Gameday

After tallying five strikeouts across his first two starts, Staumont recorded six of his 10 outs via the strikeout on Saturday, with 31 of his 61 pitches going for strikes. The 22-year-old right-hander was particularly successful with his curveball, which he used to induce nine swinging strikes.

“There weren’t many fastballs down in the zone being called strikes today,” Staumont said. “So I ended up throwing a lot more curveballs and stuff down in the zone to keep the hitters off balance.

“I have a really good feel for my curveball — it’s one of my go-to pitches. It’s something I know I can throw and have complete confidence in. It’s an equalizer, especially when it comes to even the count, and I’m fine throwing it behind in the count as well.”

Though he scuffled initially, throwing 21 pitches in the first inning while working out of a bases-loaded jam, Staumont bounced back to strike out the side in the following frame.

“In the first inning, I was a little too lackadaisical in terms …

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