Trending
By Jarrod Prugar
For the Mirror
The Altoona Curve scored two runs in the first inning and never looked back en route to a 6-4 win over Portland Tuesday night in front of 3,887 fans at PNG Field.
Centerfielder Jase Bowen knocked home shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng to get the first run across.
It was the first of three RBIs for Bowen on the evening, and was the start the Curve needed to get only their sixth win at home on the season.
"It's huge," Bowen said. "We really haven't put a lot of runs up for our pitching staff. To get them some runs early is some stress off their shoulders and it helps us kind of cruise throughout the game and just keeps the bats going."
The spark was well received and was exactly what both the offense and pitching staff were looking for to catapult their success. It's also something that carried over from their two-week road trip.
"When we were in Erie, we did a good job offensively of adding on runs later in the game, giving our pitchers more breathing room and with that our pitchers have performed better," Curve manager Robby Hammock said.
The Altoona offense put up two runs in the third inning in addition to Bowen's blast in the fifth which answered two runs from the Sea Dogs in the top of the inning.
"He's got power, he's able to do things like that," Hammock said. "And it was a good example of his offensive prowess and that's what we need."
Sullivan sharp
Altoona starter Sean Sullivan tossed five innings against the Sea Dogs allowing three runs. The first three innings of action for Sullivan were fairly unblemished as he yielded a walk in the third inning.
Portland's Marcelo Mayer lasered a single up the middle before Kyle Teel deposited Sullivan's offering over the fence in right field to cut the Curve lead to two.
Sullivan gave up a double to Tyler Miller in the fifth inning and Miller would come around to score on Nick Decker's single later in the fifth inning.
"He's got command of more than one pitch and he's able to keep guys off balance," Hammock said. "He's a true pitcher, and tonight didn't have his best stuff. And he was still able to manage five innings against the best hitting team in the league."
He would finish with six strikeouts and allowed only two walks and six hits on the night.
Contributions
The Altoona bullpen took over in the sixth inning and allowed a run on two hits over four innings of work.
"Guys are starting to turn around down there and we were able to add runs late and have confidence on each side now," Hammock said. "We don't feel like we're running out to the mound trying to preserve a one run lead every night so it gives guys breathing room."
Eddy Yean got the ball to start the sixth inning and threw two shutout innings, allowing one hit while striking out one.
It was Bethel Park native Justin Meis who pitched the final two innings, including striking out the side in the ninth to notch the win.
"It feels really good to come in and help the team out." Meis said. "In that situation, you're just trying to get the win and I felt pretty good tonight and walking away with a 'W' is huge."
Released
Following the completion of Tuesday's game, Altoona relief pitcher Cameron Junker was released.
Junker was 0-3 with a 13.19 ERA on the season.
Next up
Altoona hosts Portland for the second game of the six-game homestand tonight for a 6 p.m. first pitch. It will be Bubba Chandler who gets the ball for the Curve.
Chandler will be activated from the injured list ahead of the game. He is 1-3 with a 5.84 ERA on the season.