03/31/26 Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski / Curve manager Andy Fox talks in the dugout during practice.

A three-run home run by Shawn Ross in the seventh inning wasn’t enough as the Altoona Curve fell 5-3 to the Portland Sea Dogs in front of 3,238 at PNG Field Sunday afternoon.

“These guys played to the end,” Curve manager Andy Fox said. “We came up a little short today. If we could just find a way to limit some damage there in the fourth and give us a little bit better chance to get back in it then we were able to hit three balls hard in the ninth there that could have gone either way.”

The Curve dropped the first three games of the series — and the first 12 games of the season — before getting victories on Friday and Saturday.

On Sunday, the Curve fell behind 5-0 thanks to stellar situational baseball from the Portland offense.

Sea Dogs shortstop Marvin Alcantara singled and advanced to second when designated hitter Nate Baez got hit by a pitch from Khristian Curtis. Alcantara scored on a hit by center fielder Miguel Bleis to make it 1-0.

A single by catcher Ronald Rosario plated Baez and moved Bleis to third base. Bleis scored on a wild pitch by Tyrone Yulie to give Portland a 3-0 cushion.

The Sea Dogs scored again on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Will Turner and once more when Tyler McDonough came around to score on a single to right field by first baseman Max Ferguson.

Portland starter Hayden Mullins mowed down Altoona hitters as he struck out eight over six innings and allowed only three hits.

“The last two nights we’ve seen some really good arms with John Holobetz Saturday and then Mullins again,” Fox said. “We’ve got to find a way to find a way to scratch and claw we did Saturday and then get into the bullpen.”

The Curve offense immediately got to reliever Patrick Halligan in the seventh as back-to-back singles by catcher Omar Alfonso and right fielder Will Taylor set the stage for Ross.

The home run was Ross’ second in as many games after homering Saturday night.

“He’s just sticking with his approach,” Fox said. “He’s been working with our hitting coaches here, and you’re starting to see signs of a little more consistency. He’s got so much impact. If he can do that a little bit more, he’s gonna hit a few more.”

Saturday’s game

The Curve won their second game in a row on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over the Sea Dogs. The game was played in one hour and 47 minutes, making it the fastest game in Curve history.

Titus Dumitru and Ross homered for the Curve.

Up next

The Curve will head to Harrisburg Tuesday to start a six-game series. It marks the second time they have played the Senators this season after starting the season with three home games against them.

Lefty Connor Wietgrefe will be on the mound for the Curve Tuesday.