CURVE, Pa. – The Altoona Curve earned a doubleheader split with the Harrisburg Senators on Sunday, losing game one, 4-3, and winning game two, 6-0.
(Photo: Austin Coley. Photo courtesy of Altoona Curve)
The Curve (73-66) improved to 10-6 against the Senators (60-79) this season, claiming the “Route 22 Rivalry Trophy.”
The split leaves the Curve with a magic number of one for the Eastern LEague Western Division Title. A win by Altoona Monday or a Bowie loss would give the divisional title to the Curve.
Game One
Altoona led 3-2 going into the ninth inning, but Corban Joseph blasted a two-run home run off of Johnny Hellweg (Loss, 0-1) to give the Senators the lead.
The Curve led 1-0 in the first when Jin-De Jhang scored on a wild pitch.
In the fourth, Osvaldo Abreu ripped an RBI single to even the score.
Harrisburg took the lead in the sixth inning. Dan Gamache led off with a double and Yadiel Hernandez drove him in with an RBI single to give the Senators a 2-1 lead.
Altoona tied the game in the seventh. Cole Tucker singled, stole second base and scored when Jordan George hit an RBI single. The Curve grabbed a 3-2 lead when Mitchell Tolman hit a sacrifice fly in his first Double-A at-bat, but Joseph’s home run spoiled the comeback.
Alex McRae started the game and allowed one run on three hits in five innings, striking out five. After the game resumed on Sunday, Sean Keselica pitched three innings in relief and allowed one run on four hits. Hellweg allowed two runs on two hits in the ninth inning.
Senators starter Kyle McGowin surrendered one earned run on three hits in five innings. Brady Dragmire (Win, 5-1) pitched three innings after the game resumed and gave up two runs on seven hits. Andrew Robinson (Save, 13) pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The game served as the completion of Saturday night’s game that was suspended due to rain with the score tied, 1-1, in the top of the sixth inning.
Game Two
Altoona shut out Harrisburg in the regularly-scheduled game on Sunday.
Austin Coley (Win, 6-4) pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed five hits, striking out two. He has now thrown 15 consecutive scoreless innings and lowered his ERA to 3.01, fourth-best in the Eastern League.
The Curve opened the scoring in the first. Tucker doubled to lead off the frame and George singled him home. Later in the inning, Casey Hughston hit a two-run triple in his first Double-A at-bat to stretch the lead to 3-0.
In the second, the lead became 4-0 when Tolman hit an RBI double to score Elvis Escobar. Tomas Morales added a run with an RBI single in the third inning to stretch the lead to 5-0.
In the seventh, Tucker blasted a solo homer, his second, to push the lead to 6-0 and cap the scoring.
Jake Brentz pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Daniel Zamora pitched a quiet ninth to close out the game.
Altoona will wrap up the regular season with the finale against Harrisburg on Monday. The Curve will send right-hander J.T. Brubaker (7-6, 4.51) to the mound, while righty Taylor Hill (4-6, 5.33) will start for the Senators. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
Monday is Labor Day and the regular-season finale, presented by Warner’s Landscaping. It will also be Military & First Responder Monday, presented the Altoona Mirror. We salute our active duty military and first responders with half-price tickets with proper I.D. (up to four tickets).
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