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ERIE -- Three Curve bullpen arms combined to sit down 16 straight hitters at one point in Altoona's 2-0 Eastern League win over the Erie SeaWolves on Tuesday night at UPMC Park.
Dominic Pipkin started the day on the mound and tossed three scoreless frames with one strikeout. Pipkin holds a 2.70 ERA since July 1 with 16 strikeouts over seven outings, including three starts. Josh Loeschorn followed with three dominant innings of relief, retiring every batter he faced on just 30 pitches. Loeschorn earned the win as the pitcher of record when Altoona finally got on the board.
Callan Moss slammed a two-run homer to left-center with two outs in the inning. Moss' sixth home run of the campaign was his 98th hit of the season, good for fifth-most in the Eastern League.
Landon Tomkins wrapped up the victory with three scoreless frames of relief. Tomkins retired six straight hitters to begin his outing and danced around a pair of ninth inning singles to finish his third save. Tomkins struck out the final two hitters of the game, giving him four total.
Lonnie White Jr. added two hits in the victory. Easton Carmichael and Javier Rivas also picked up singles in the win.
Moss' home run was the only extra-base hit in the game as the teams combined for nine hits in the series opener.
Team notes
The Pirates officially made the following changes to the Curve roster on Tuesday. To complete the trade for the Los Angeles Angels' Kirby Yates, Pittsburgh moved Curve RHP Kyle Robinson in return for the veteran relief pitcher. Also, OF Shalin Polanco was sent down from Altoona to Greensboro.
Standings
With the win, Altoona improved its record to 15-19 while first-place Erie dropped down to 23-11.
Up next
Altoona continues its series this afternoon at 12:35 with RHP Peyton Stumbo on the mound. The SeaWolves start RHP Hayden Minton.