PORTLAND, Maine – The Altoona Curve were held to five hits in a 2-0 loss to the Portland Sea Dogs on Thursday afternoon at Hadlock Field.
(Photo: Mitch Keller. Photo courtesy of Altoona Curve)
The Sea Dogs (59-61) took the series rubber game and handed the Curve (63-59) their sixth shutout loss of the year.
Portland starting pitcher Trey Ball (Win, 6-10) set a new career high with nine strikeouts over seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits and one walk.
The Sea Dogs broke the scoreless tie in the fifth inning. After a lead-off triple by Cole Sturgeon, Deiner Lopez knocked an RBI double and later scored on a single by Danny Mars.
Curve starter Mitch Keller (Loss, 0-1) allowed two runs over six innings, matching his line from each of his first two Double-A starts. He finished the day with two walks issued and struck out eight.
The Curve brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth after a two-out single by Pablo Reyes, but Bobby Poyner (Save, 8) worked a flyout from Anderson Feliz to close out the game.
Altoona saw its best scoring chance in the third inning, when Reyes singled to left field, but Elvis Escobar was thrown out at the plate by Mars from left field.
Reyes finished the game 3-for-4.
The Curve open a three-game series against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats on Friday night. Right-hander Austin Coley (4-4, 3.11) will start for Altoona on the mound, opposed by New Hampshire right-hander Sean Reid-Foley (8-10, 4.94). First pitch at Northeast Dental Stadium is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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