×

Senators make the most of Nats’ star

From Mirror reports

HARRISBURG — Major leaguer Daniel Murphy almost single-handedly won a minor league game Sunday for Harrisburg.

Murphy, on a rehab assignment from the Washington Nationals, drove in six of the Senators’ seven runs in a 7-2 win over the Curve at FNB Field. Murphy smacked a three-run double in the third inning for a 3-0 lead, then drilled a three-run homer in the fifth to make it 6-2.

Altoona has lost five of six on its road trip, which ends today with a noon game.

Curve lefty Taylor Hearn had not allowed a hit until Murphy’s three-run double in the third. The Senators loaded the bases on an error, fielder’s choice and walk.

Hearn then didn’t make it out of the third inning, getting lifted after throwing 38 pitches in the frame. The Pirates have long had a policy of not letting pitchers go much above 30-35 pitches in an inning in the minor leagues.

Hearn (1-4) wound up taking the loss, giving up three unearned runs in 2 2/3 innings. He gave up just the one hit to Murphy, struck out three and walked two. Reliever Logan Sendelbach gave up three runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Kyle McGowin (2-0) won for Harrisburg, holding Altoona to two runs on six hits in six innings.

The Curve’s only runs came on a two-run homer by Stephen Alemais in the fourth inning that made it 3-2. But Harrisburg answered when Murphy’s three-run homer provided a four-run cushion.

Murphy is coming back from right knee surgery in October and has not played in the majors yet this season. He went 2-for-4 Sunday.

The Senators also are playing with rehabbing outfielder Brian Goodwin, who went 1-for-3 with two runs.

Alemais went 2-for-3 for the Curve, while Ke’Bryan Hayes was 2-for-4.

The Curve will turn to right-hander Austin Coley today as he makes his first start since coming down from Triple-A.

Coley was a key member of last year’s Eastern League championship team, going 6-4 with a 3.07 ERA in 29 games (23 starts). But he had a tough time this year with Triple-A Indianapolis, going 1-3 with a 9.64 ERA in nine games (seven starts).

SUBHD: Game recap

Key player: 2B Daniel Murphy went 2-for-4 with a homer and six RBIs for Harrisburg.

Key play: Murphy’s three-run double in the third inning and three-run homer in the fifth did in the Curve.

Key stat: Altoona has dropped five out of six on its current road trip.

SUBHD: How they scored

Bottom 3rd: Abreu reached on Alemais error, McGowin reached on fielder’s choice, Goodwin walked, all three scored on Murphy double (0-3).

Top 4th: George singled, scored on Alemais two-run homer (2-3).

Bottom 5th: Johnson singled, Goodwin singled, both scored on Murphy three-run homer (2-6).

Bottom 6th: Abreu walked, scored on Davidson single (2-7).

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today