Curve Take Home Third Straight, Beat Harrisburg

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Altoona Curve extended their early-season-best winning streak to three games after an offensive explosion in the first game of a three-game set against the Harrisburg Senators in a 12-5 win at FNB Field on Monday night.

Down 4-0 after the first inning, the Curve scored eight runs in the top of the second inning to take a lead from which they would not surrender. Reese McGuire, Eric Wood and Barrett Barnesreached to begin the second and load the bases, and an RBI single from Chris Diaz and a three-run triple by Harold Ramirez would tie the game at 4-4.

Jose Osuna gave Altoona its first lead of the game on an RBI single into left field, and McGuire followed with his first double-A home run, a three-run shot off reliever Gilberto Mendez, extending the Curve’s lead to 8-4.

Senators starter Austen Williams (Loss, 0-2) could not escape the second inning, allowing seven runs on five hits while walking one and striking out three over 1.2 innings of work.

In the top of the fifth, Diaz hit his first home run of the year, another three-run shot, to extend the Altoona lead to 11-4. Erich Weiss added the final run of the for the Curve by leading off with a solo home run in the top of the sixth, his first of the year, giving the Curve a 12-5 advantage.

After his rocky first inning, Jason Creasy (Win, 2-0) retired 11 Harrisburg batters in a row before walking Wilmer Difo in the bottom of the fifth. Overall, the right-hander went five innings, allowing four hits and five runs (four earned) with two walks and four strikeouts.

The Curve and Senators face off in the second of the three-game set on Tuesday night at FNB Field. Right-hander Clay Holmes (0-1, 6.30) makes his third start of the season for the Curve, opposed by Harrisburg right-hander John Simms (0-1, 5.40). First pitch is slated for 6 :30 p.m.