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An early longball coupled with a late longball helped propel the Altoona Curve to a 5-4 victory over the Harrisburg Senators in front of 3,187 fans at PNG Field Wednesday night.
Matt Fraizer got the scoring started with a three-run shot in the home half of the first inning.
"That was really big. I think when you look at what Andrew Alvarez ended up throwing seven innings with two hits so clearly at that point getting a three one lead early helps," Curve manager Callix Crabbe said. "You know they're gonna score again. They have a really good offense, but it was definitely big from a confidence standpoint."
It was his eighth of the season and held up until the eighth inning when the Senators knocked around Curve reliever Geronimo Franzua.
Harrisburg plated a run in the second inning with an RBI triple by Brady House. Altoona starter Anthony Solometo and reliever Michell Miliano combined for seven innings of one-run baseball.
Callix on pitching
Crabbe turned to Franzua for the eighth, who struggled mightily and allowed three runs on three hits.
In the home half of the eighth inning Lolo Sanchez singled to get the inning started then with two outs, Joe Perez deposited his seventh home run of the season with the Curve beyond the wall in left-center field for a two-run home run.
"They haven't been pitching to me too much recently, last week and a half or so," Perez said. "I was just trying to see the ball up and get a good pitch to hit and I did."
The reason opposing pitchers haven't been throwing to him? He's reached base in all 21 games he's played with the Curve. His arrival has helped fill in the big shoes left by guys like Liover Peguero and Mason Martin who were both promoted.
"Joe is a is a hitting rat. He just comes to the field every day and he thinks hitting all day long," Crabbe said. "He puts in a lot of work, and I think he has been really good for our lineup."
Attendance mark
With Wednesday's crowd of 3,187 people, the Curve official surpassed 2022's yearly attendance figure of 285,777. Altoona has four games remaining and currently the yearly attendance sits at 288,467.
Superb Solometo
Curve starter Anthony Solometo tossed 4• innings of two-hit baseball allowing only one run to Harrisburg Wednesday night.
The left-handed Solometo was on a hard pitch count and exited the game after tossing 65 pitches. He struck out three and his lone blemish was an RBI triple in the second inning.
"As you saw tonight there's a unique arm and the arm pattern," Crabbe said. "He's as left handed as they come. Every cell in his body is left handed but he's a really good kid and it's nice to see him just work through Double-A for the first time. He has a bright future."
Moving on up
Prior to Wednesday's game, Curve outfielder Matt Gorski was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis. Gorski hit .238 with
17 home runs with Altoona in 2023.
To take the roster spot of Paul Skenes, Greensboro Bubba Chandler has been promoted to Altoona. In 24 starts, the right-handed Chandler was 9-4 with a 4.75 ERA.
Also promoted was second baseman Jase Bowen who slashed .259/.335/.472 with 23 home runs and 24 stolen bases. He will be activated ahead of Thursday's game.
Next up
Altoona RHP Sean Sullivan gets the ball for Thursday's game. It will be his first start since August 20th. His previous two outings he'd been following up Paul Skenes when his outings were completed.
In those two appearances, Sullivan allowed three runs a piece while striking out three and four respectively.