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By Jarrod Prugar
For the Mirror
The Altoona Curve's rally to erase a five-run deficit fell short as they fell 5-4 to the Erie SeaWolves Sunday night in front of 7,381 fans at PNG Field.
The Curve fell behind 3-0 early with the SeaWolves scoring three runs off Altoona starter Anthony Solometo in the first inning. Erie also plated two runs off Curve reliever Nick Dombkowski in the fourth inning as the Altoona offense was struggling against SeaWolves starter Lael Lockhart.
It was the second time this week Lockhart silenced the Curve bats having thrown a shutout Tuesday. Despite those struggles, Altoona was able to begin to fight back after Lockhart left the game following the fifth inning.
"I'm happy with the way they fought even as they struggled really early on against that first arm," Curve manager Callix Crabbe said. "They fought as much as they could to give us a chance to win the game."
That fight included Connor Scott doubling home catcher Carter Bins to put Altoona on the board in the fifth inning before a rally in the sixth inning nearly changed the outcome of the game.
Shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng started the sixth inning off with a double to left field before a Matt Gorski single put runners at first and third with no outs. Designated hitter Joe Perez popped out for the first out of the inning to bring up Bins.
With a full count, Gorski induced a balk from Erie pitcher Jake Higginbotham that scored Cheng and put Gorski at second with one out. Bins fouled out on the next pitch, but Gorski tagged up and ended up on third base with two outs.
"It obviously sucks that we fell short but Gorski, he's just a really good baseball player," Crabbe said. "He tags up on a ball that's just right over the first baseman's head against a really good defensive team."
Left fielder Matt Fraizer stepped to the plate next and promptly launched a two-run home run over the right field fence to bring Altoona within one.
The Curve didn't threaten again for the remainder of the game.
Bullpen battles
With Solometo only going an inning in an effort to control his innings, the Altoona bullpen was tasked with going eight innings. For their effort they kept the Curve in the game and Erie off the scoreboard in all but one of those innings.
Dombkowski went five innings, but allowed two runs in the fourth inning when Trei Cruz hit a two-run homer for the SeaWolves. Dombkowski scattered five hits on the night while only striking out one.
"Dombkowski just made that one mistake to Cruz and it ended up obviously being a deciding run," Crabbe said.
From there it was Oliver Garcia, Tyler Samaniego and Tahnaj Thomas who all threw scoreless innings with striking out one apiece.
"I feel really good about tonight," Crabbe said. "I'm happy with the way that they threw the ball."
Solometo's struggles
Solometo struggled in his lone inning of work. He allowed three runs on four hits in the first inning.
He allowed a two-run home run to Jace Jung that put Erie up 2-0 three batters into the game. Chris Meyers would single home Ben Malgeri for the third run of the evening against Solometo.
"It's obviously very important for him to be able to control the innings he's already had this year, but we have to protect the future for his arm and keep him limited," Crabbe said.
Over the weekend
Altoona got beat by two opponents Saturday night with Erie winning a rain-shortened six-inning contest 4-1.
The SeaWolves scored four runs off Curve lefty Jackson Wolf who was making his second start with Altoona after coming to the Pirates organization at the trade deadline.
Next up
The Curve head to Bowie to take on uber prospect Jackson Holliday and the Baysox. Holliday is hitting .380 in 19 games with Bowie.