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By Jarrod Prugar
For the Mirror
The Altoona Curve fell 10-4 to the Portland Sea Dogs in front of 3,597 fans at PNG Field Sunday afternoon.
The Curve's loss was their third straight loss to the Sea Dogs, the first two of which were devastating extra-inning defeats.
It was yet another game where Altoona manager Robby Hammock and his staff were left scratching their heads, much like they have throughout the 2024 season.
"We have no answers," Hammock said. "We're waiting for somebody to step up. We actually need more than one person. We need multiple people to step up and nothing's come about and until that happens, we'll be in the same spot going forward."
In Friday's loss, Altoona carried a 97-percent win probability into the top of the ninth inning before a three-run home run by Kyle Teel tied the game. Portland plated two runs in the top of the 10th to earn the victory.
The Curve carried a 4-2 lead into the ninth inning on Saturday before Teel launched a grand slam to give the Sea Dogs a two-run lead. Altoona scored twice on Dustin Peterson's two-run single to send the game to extra innings.
During the extra frame, Portland again plated two runs, and then shut the Curve offense down in the bottom of the inning to exit with the victory.
Those two losses, and the inability to keep the Sea Dogs offense at bay throughout the series, were a microcosm of what's plagued Altoona all season.
"The bullpen has struggled all year," Hammock said. "We've had a couple of spots there where we've been okay, but for the most part, the struggles just continue. Control, command, stuff, It's just not there right now. Guys are working hard to correct it and it's an ongoing process."
With that inconsistency, it should serve as no surprise as to why the Curve have converted only 10 out of 21 save opportunities this season. Only New Hampshire has a worse mark at 47-percent.
Altoona has trotted out 12 different pitchers for save opportunities this season with no pitcher having more than four opportunities. The team leaders in saves for the Curve are Cameron Junker and Justin Meis.
"Early on we were pitching a little bit short in the pen and so we kind of ran into the spot where whoever was available that night was gonna get that opportunity," Hammock said. "That's why you see different guys with different chances … it's tough at the moment."
Junker was released May 29 while Meis earned a save against Portland on Tuesday, but blew the save Friday night when he gave up the three-run home run to Teel.
"There hasn't been anyone really step up that's shown us that they're ready and willing to take the ball and be the closer. No one has really separated themselves yet," Hammock said. "We were hoping for that by this point. And at the same time, you've got to get there and then if you do, maybe somebody does have a good outing, close out some games you know, they're not always available the next night. That's stuff we deal with as well."
Tough day
Portland scored three runs on Curve starter Sean Sullivan in the first inning Sunday, and scored a run in both the second and fourth innings.
He gave up five runs of which only two were earned. It was a far different story than last Tuesday when he allowed three runs and got the win. Sullivan allowed five hits, three walks and struck out one in 3-plus innings of work.
Getting on base
Altoona second baseman Tsung-Che Cheng scored both times he reached base against Portland Sunday.
He singled in the bottom of the sixth inning before scoring on a Peterson single, and scored again in the eighth after walking.
On the road
Altoona has today as the Curve head to Richmond to take on the Flying Squirrels for a six-game series beginning Tuesday.