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Curve’s offense flat in blowout defeat

MANCHESTER, N.H. – As the Curve try to hold on for a division title, their old nemesis is making a late-season push to get back into the playoff picture.

Altoona’s offense continued to struggle, and the pitching fell apart late in Friday’s 12-2 loss to New Hampshire at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium. It was a 1-1 game in the sixth, then the Fisher Cats scored 10 runs over three innings for the blowout.

Meanwhile, Akron won Friday, and Harrisburg lost, so the RubberDucks have slipped past the Senators for second place in the division. They trail Altoona by four games.

Akron has been a frequent playoff opponent for the Curve over the years, and with the RubberDucks bouncing back from a lengthy dismal stretch, the two clubs are in position to square off again in the postseason.

The Curve scored in the second inning Friday, then New Hampshire pulled even in the sixth. Lefty Brandon Waddell was pitching well, only to have things unravel in a hurry starting in the sixth.

Waddell gave up two runs as the Fisher Cats took a 3-1 lead. He then gave up a leadoff homer in the seventh, making it 4-1, followed by a single and double and was pulled for Brett McKinney. New Hampshire added two more runs in the inning for a 6-1 cushion.

Waddell (7-8) allowed five runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out two with one walk.

Jason Creasy finally made his return to the mound for the Curve to start the eighth and had a disastrous night. The pitcher, who’s been out with an arm injury since April 29, gave up six runs on six hits with two walks and no strikeouts in just two-thirds of an inning as New Hampshire blew it open.

Shane Dawson (9-4) won for the Fisher Cats, giving up just one run on three hits over six innings. Eric Wood had two of Altoona’s three hits on the night.

By comparison, three players had three hits apiece for New Hampshire – Richard Urena, Jon Berti and Roemon Fields – as the club belted 17 hits.

SUBHD: Familiar faces absent

The series against New Hampshire was supposed to see the Curve going up against two former players – catcher Reese McGuire and outfielder Harold Ramirez – who were dealt to the Blue Jays at the trade deadline.

Those two are injured, however, and probably won’t play again this season.

Ramirez went 3-for-4 in his first game with the Fisher Cats, but he suffered a knee injury and has been out ever since. McGuire played for a week and a half before suffering a shoulder injury and hasn’t played since Aug. 11.

SUBHD: Game recap

Key player: LF Jon Berti went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs for New Hampshire.

Key play: The Fisher Cats scored two runs to take the lead in the sixth, then three more in the seventh and six in the eighth.

Key stat: Akron is now four games behind Altoona and in second place in the Western Division.

SUBHD: How they scored

Top 2nd: Wood doubled, scored on Schwind sacrifice fly (1-0).

Bottom 2nd: Lavarnway solo homer (1-1).

Bottom 6th: Urena singled, scored on Tellez groundout (1-2); Berti singled, scored on Lavarnway single (1-3).

Bottom 7th: Saez solo homer (1-4); Lopes doubled, scored on Urena single (1-5); Tellez fielder’s choice scored Urena (1-6).

Bottom 8th: Saez singled, scored on Urena single (1-7); Lopes singled, Fields singled, both scored on Berti double (1-9); Leblebiljian sacrifice fly scored Urena (1-10); Saez bases-loaded walk scored Berti (1-11); Tellez walked, scored on Fields single (1-12).

Top 9th: Schwind walked, scored on Espinal bases-loaded walk (2-12).

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