By Jarrod Prugar

For the Mirror

The Altoona Curve defeated the Erie Seawolves 2-0 in front of 4,656 fans at PNG Field Thursday night.

The win marked the first of the homestand against Erie, and provided the Curve with the total team effort necessary to get the job done.

“We did our job today,” Curve reliever Jack Carey said. “We’ve been improving all year long, today we locked the door down and were able to celebrate afterwards.”

Altoona plated a run in each of the second and third innings, courtesy of some sloppy play by the SeaWolves.

In the second, Curve left fielder Yoyner Fajardo singled to left and advanced to second by way of a throwing error to second base by Erie’s Ben Malgeri.

Fajardo came around to score just three pitches later when catcher Wyatt Hendrie singled to right.

Kervin Pichardo singled to lead off the third inning, but the woes of the Seawolves struck again. Pichardo stole second, and the throw from catcher Eliezer Alfonzo bounced into center field, allowing Pichardo to end up on third with one out.

Seth Beer came to the plate following a strikeout by Jase Bowen and promptly lined a single to left field to plate Pichardo and give the Curve a 2-0 lead.

Both runs came with two outs.

“It was great to make the most of our stolen base opportunities and getting in scoring position and then getting a couple of big two-out hits,” Curve manager Robby Hammock said. “You got to hit at the right time and make the most of it and we did that tonight.”

The first two losses provided different levels of disappointment in giving up early leads in both games, and struggling at the plate throughout, but Hammock’s squad battled and was able to put those performances in the rearview mirror Thursday night.

“It’s always good to see guys come back after some tough losses and make the most out of scoring opportunities and turn around and put up zeros when we needed it most,” Hammock said.

The win was the type of bounceback performance the Curve have shown they’re no stranger to given their lack of success at home this year.

“We’ve shown here lately that we can take a couple of tough losses and turn things around,” Hammock said. “We did it last series in Richmond after a five-game losing streak and then it spilled over three games at home and then to start the next series before answering the call to finish the series.”

Early exit

Drake Fellows cruised through five innings before tweaking what seemed like his right side in the top of the sixth inning.

He allowed only five hits while striking out four and did not allow a run or a walk during his outing.

At that point he was taken out of the game, seemingly a precautionary move according to Hammock.

“He’s a pretty big sweater and I’d say he had a little bit of cramping in his legs,” Hammock said. “To play it safe, we got him out of there because sometimes those things happen and then you start trying to avoid certain movements and then your arm starts to come into play at that point.”

Strikeout kings

Despite the improved offensive output, the Altoona offense is still fighting a highly-contested battle with striking out.

Nine out of the final 11 Curve batters were sent down via the strikeout. The 12 Altoona strikeouts marked the third game in a row where the offense has struck out 11 or more times.

It also marked the 28th game this season where the Curve have struck out 10 or more times.

The bullpen

The Altoona bullpen sprung into action following Fellows’ exit. Eddie Yean took over and promptly shut the door on the Erie offense.

Yean struck out three and allowed only one hit and a walk in two innings of work before making way for Carey.

Carey hit the first batter he faced, but settled in nicely over the final two innings to record his third save of the season.

He gave up a hit, struck out one and faced one hitter over the minimum.

“My mentality was just basically attack,” Carey said. “They’re a pretty good hitting team so I just wanted to try to get ahead. Unfortunately hit that guy in the first at-bat, but I was able to bounce back get a clutch double play but my mentality is just to get ahead and attack and we did that.

Next up

Southpaw Anthony Solometo toes the rubber for the Curve tonight. He is 0-4 with a 6.00 ERA.

Solometo has struggled in his second season with Altoona and has worked essentially as an opener of sorts in his past few starts, none going more than two innings.