Split decision: Cheng’s improvement helps Curve win one of two
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The Altoona Curve split Wednesday's doubleheader with the Erie SeaWolves winning game one, 4-2, and losing game two, 5-2, in front of 3,063 people at PNG Field.
Tsung-Che Cheng paved the way for the Curve in game one, scoring two runs and knocking one in. After initially struggling, Cheng has become a lot more comfortable at the Double-A level.
"He realizes he can play here now and sees that he's not overwhelmed by the league anymore," Curve acting manager Gary Green said. "He's figured out the speed of things. The kid's a really good player. He's very alert and aware of a lot of things that are going on in the game. For a young player, he plays a game like he's 30 years old."
Right fielder Connor Scott chipped in two hits including a double and two RBIs in game one.
In the second game, center fielder Matt Gorski returned from the Injured List and hit his team-leading 14th home run of the season to tie the game at one in the fifth inning.
"That's a big bat to have in the lineup," Green said. "It just changes our offense, it helps lengthen our offense when you have a guy in the lineup like that."
Erie tagged Altoona reliever Noe Toribio for three runs in the sixth inning and another in the seventh to take the lead and the game from the Curve.
Altoona plated a run in the sixth inning to crawl with in two when catcher Carter Bins hit an RBI single scoring second baseman Jackson Glenn, though it proved to not be enough.
Sullivan sparkles
RHP Sean Sullivan went the distance in game one striking out five and allowing only two runs.
"We needed to get at least five from him so to get seven was a huge bonus," Green said. "We didn't have to use anybody from the bullpen in that first game. We got seven games in six days this week so for him to be able to complete the game for us was outstanding."
Sullivan's ERA dropped to 4.11 with his performance and he moved to 4-4 on the season. It was the second win in a row for Sullivan who has been one of the most consistent starters for the Curve this season.
"He threw the ball around the plate," Green said. "I think he was able to throw his changeup over the plate more often. He seemed to attack hitters more and he was very efficient because he did attack hitters. His execution was good."
Cheng's streak
Cheng's hitting streak extended to 16 games with his two-hit performance in game one of the double header.
In the second game, Cheng's streak was extended to 17 games with a single in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Next up
The Curve will send RHP Braxton Ashcraft to the mound Thursday against the SeaWolves. In seven starts with Altoona, Ashcraft is 0-1 with a 1.59 ERA.