AKRON, Ohio - A day after his team got shut out, Kyle McPherson decided Akron deserved a taste of its own medicine.
The right-hander guided the Curve to a 4-0 win over the Aeros on Wednesday in the final game of a three-game series at Canal Park.
McPherson went six strong innings, keeping the Aeros off the scoreboard and scattering just two hits while striking out six.
The Curve scored their first run in the third on a sacrifice fly by Starling Marte.
Working with a slim lead, McPherson (4-3) didn't allow an Akron base runner past second base.
He also kept the ball in the strike zone, walking one batter in the outing. McPherson has walked just two batters in his last three outings.
Fact Box
Covering the bases
LEADING OFF: The Curve return home tonight for a four-game series against New Britain. The first 500 fans 21 and older in attendance tonight will receive a free shot glass for the third item of the four-part Nittany Travel Summer Cruise Series. The shot glass commemorates Tom Cruise's role as bartender Brian Flannigan in the 1988 classic "Cocktail."
SAFE AT FIRST: The Curve are done playing Akron for the rest of the season. The Aeros owned an 11-9 advantage in the season series. The Curve are now 128-145 against the Aeros all-time.
STEALING SECOND: CF Starling Marte has shown to prefer playing in day games this season. Marte is batting .341 in 20 day games, compared to .296 at night.
ROUNDING THIRD: 1B Matt Curry hit .455 during the Akron series. Curry went 5-for-11 with four doubles.
HEADING HOME: C Tony Sanchez was given the day off behind the plate Wednesday, hitting clean-up as the designated hitter. Sanchez hits much better as a catcher, batting .246 in 68 games as the Curve's backstop compared to .192 in eight games as a DH.
- Mike Still
The 6-foot-4 righty has now won two straight starts and has brought his ERA below 3.00 for the first time this season. At 2.82, his ERA is the lowest of any Curve starter.
Though the Curve managed just one run off Akron starter Drew Pomeranz in five innings, the offense woke up late in the game to provide the bullpen with the support it needed.
Right-hander Adam Miller came on to pitch for the Aeros in the eighth and quickly induced back-to-back groundouts.
But Miller couldn't escape the inning unscathed as a Marte single got the Curve started on a two-run, two-out rally.
Brock Holt doubled home Marte and came around to score himself on another double off the center-field wall by Andrew Lambo to increase the lead to 3-0.
The Curve weren't done with Miller in the ninth, leading off the inning with Matt Curry's second double of the game.
Curry scored on a two-out single by Brad Chalk, who has been phenomenal batting with runners in scoring position with two outs this season, hitting .467 with 17 RBIs in 30 at-bats.
With added run support, Michael Dubee got the job done in relief.
Aaron Thompson threw a hitless seventh inning and set up Dubee for the save.
Dubee threw two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit in the ninth.
After Beau Mills singled with one out in the final frame, Dubee got Chun Chen to ground into a game-ending double play.
Pomeranz (0-1) gave up three hits and struck out six for the loss.
Game recap
Key player: Curve starter Kyle McPherson tossed six shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out six.
Key play: With two down in the eighth and Starling Marte running on the pitch, Brock Holt hit an RBI double to the opposite field to score Marte from first, and give the Curve bullpen a 2-0 cushion.
Key stat: Akron had just two runners in scoring position the whole game.
How they scored
Top 3rd: Chalk walked, scored on Marte sacrifice fly (1-0).
Top 8th: Marte singled, scored on Holt double (2-0); Holt scored on Lambo double (3-0).
Top 9th: Curry doubled, scored on Chalk single (4-0).
