Curve break out the bats in victory over Wolves
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The Altoona Curve offense erupted for 17 hits en route to an 8-7 victory over Erie Friday night in front of 4,507 fans at PNG Field.
"For the offense, it was nice to see us hit some balls against a pretty good pitcher," Curve manager Callix Crabbe said. "Brant Hurter's a pretty good arm. We faced him. Last time in Erie and he actually did a pretty good job, tonight was just one of those games."
It wasn't as pretty as it could have been for Altoona as the SeaWolves made a late-game rally.
The SeaWolves scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning, two of which came on a throwing error by Curve third baseman Jackson Glenn.
In the ninth, Erie hit back-to-back sacrifice flies to come within one run before Braeden Ogle shut the door with a strikeout to end the game.
Coming into Friday night's contest, Altoona had managed a total of 21 hits in three games including Wednesday's 11 inning win. The offensive outpouring was just what the doctor ordered for a team whose offense has gone cold at times.
"They've been playing hard. The pitchers, too," Crabbe said. "They're finding that hard out. We have some capable guys. It's just some of some of it isn't clicking right now, but tonight, it was just really good contact."
That really good contact included six extra base hits and seven of the nine Curve hitters having multiple hits and scattering the ball across the park.
"If you look at those at-bats and the hits, there were balls to right-center, balls to left-center and we were really running the bases well," Crabbe said. "Applying pressure on Erie's pitcher was good and was really cool to see."
Altoona looks to finish out the series strong against the Seawolves with a pair of games this weekend before the All-Star break and head into the break with some momentum.
"We know that team can hit and they're gonna come back ready to play Saturday," Crabbe said. "I just want my guys to continue to do what they've been doing. They're really mentally in a good spot. They really seem to be enjoying playing the game."
Stellar Shortridge
Altoona starter Aaron Shortridge went seven strong innings allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out five against Erie.
It was a season-high in innings for Shortridge who yielded the two runs and three of the hits in the first inning. That prompted a mound visit from pitching coach Cale Johnson which proved to be the turning point early in the game.
"That was a really timely visit by Cale," Crabbe said. "The words that he used, clearly struck home and I know you can't always put a ton of weight into what's coming out of a coach's mouth with a player in the middle of the fight, but I felt like that one really turned Shortridge's outing around."
From there, Shortridge never looked back, striking out four and allowing only one hit in the next six innings.
"I just took it into my own hands, trusted my defense, and my catcher Abrahan Gutierrez," Shortridge said. "He did a really great job tonight just rolling with me. I just kind of tried to stay in the moment and keep making good pitches and I think we executed pretty well."
Roster moves
Curve infielder Domingo Leyba returned from his second stint on the Injured List and was activated prior to the game. He did not appear in Friday night's contest.
The corresponding move featured Altoona LHP Anthony Solometo being placed on the development list. With his start Thursday, Solometo would not pitch until after the All-Star break resulting in him being put on the list as a way to open a roster spot for Leyba.
Next up
LHP Omar Cruz gets the nod Saturday for Altoona carrying a 4.24 ERA and 1-2 record into the start. Braxton Ashcraft will be on the mound for the Curve on Sunday for the 1 PM start in the final game before the All-Star break.