Live from Harrisburg: Curve look to clinch series

The Altoona Curve, up two games to one, are trying to clinch the Western Division Playoff series this afternoon in Harrisburg.  The Curve, Pa. blog will provide frequent updates.

6:26  Blog shutting down for now.  Listen to Mike Passanisi and Mike Antonellis call the final outs on the Curve Radio Network (ESPN Radio 1430 in Altoona) or online at altoonacurve.com.  Close to another celebration!

6:24  Middle of the 8th - Curve 10, Harrisburg 3.

6:21  Guess what?  Another home run - the Curve's fifth of the day.  This one was struck by Chase d'Arnaud - his second blast in as many days.  Curve 10, Harrisburg 3.

6:19  The Curve are six outs away from a date in the Eastern League Championship Series with Trenton.  This blog will shut down after the eighth inning so that the potential celebration can be taken in by this reporter.

6:17  Former major leaguer Craig Hansen working his way back from health issues with the Curve, comes on and, after a wild pitch, gets Lombardozzi to ground out to end the inning.  End of 7th - Curve 9, Harrisburg 3.

6:13  Watson yields a two-out single to Edgardo Baez and leaves the game after 6 2/3 strong innings.

6:08  Moment of silence in remembrance of Sept. 11.  God Bless America.  May we never forget.

6:02  Gimenez hits Curve's fourth home run of the game - a mammoth shot over the Ollie's Cheap Seats in left - Curve 9, Harrisburg 3.

5:56  Watson gets the next three batters in order.  End of 6th - Curve 8, Harrisburg 3.

5:51  Harrisburg gets its second home run of the game - a solo shot by all-star Chris Marrero to lead off the bottom of the sixth.  Curve lead, 8-3.

5:41  Each team goes down quickly in the fifth.  End of 5th - Curve 8, Harrisburg 2.

5:30  Watson works another scoreless inning.  End of 4th - Curve 8, Harrisburg 2.

5:22  Lambo, who's making a pretty strong case for series MVP, singles home another run.  Middle of 4th - Curve 8, Harrisburg 2.

5:13  Senators get a Josh Johnson single with one out, but Watson gets the next two batters to end the inning.  End of 3rd - Curve 7, Harrisburg 2.

5:05  Curve put two more on base before Watson taps out to end the inning.  Middle of 3rd - Curve 7, Harrisburg 2.

4:54  Two batters later, Andrew Lambo rips a two-run homer to right center - Curve 7, Harrisburg 2.  Still in the third inning...

4:50  The longball fest continues.  Jordy Mercer drives a 2-0 pitch over the seats in left center for a two-run homer.  Curve 5, Harrisburg 2.

4:41  Watson settles down to get final two batters of the inning.  End of 2nd - Curve 3, Harrisburg 2.

4:38  Jhonatan Solano rips a two-run blast to left to cut the Curve lead to 3-2.

4:28  Miles Durham connects for a two-out, three-run homer to left to give the Curve a 3-0 lead!

4:18  Watson battles through some early control trouble to strand Lombardozzi at second.  End of 1st - Curve 0, Harrisburg 0.

4:09  Stephen Lombardozzi, son of former major leaguer and current Pirates' minor league infield coordinator Steve Lombardozzi, leads off with a walk on five pitches.

4:06  Mercer strikes out.  Curve go in order.  Tony Watson takes the hill to face the Senators in the bottom of the first.

4:04  Harrison flies out to deep right center.

4:03  d'Arnaud takes a called strike three.

4:02  First pitch delivered to Chase d'Arnaud - a strike.