Two sour sixth innings for the Altoona Curve helped lead the Portland Sea Dogs to a sweep in front of 3,733 fans at PNG Field Wednesday night in a double header.
The Curve dropped the opener, 3-0, and then lost the nightcap, 9-6. Both games were seven innings.
Caden Rose hit his second home run of the game, a two-run shot off Justin Meis, to put the Sea Dogs up 3-0 over the Curve. His home runs made up two-thirds of the hits for Portland who were held to three hits overall.
“Typically you’re okay with the solo home runs,” Altoona manager Andy Fox said. “It’s the ones where you walk or hit by pitch and things like that which you don’t like. Meis was aggressive and Rose ended up getting him. You gotta give them credit, too.”
In the second game, the Curve were heading down the wrong track to start the game, being no-hit after three innings and trailing 3-0, but were able to plate six runs, including a two-run home run by Nick Cimillo in the fourth inning to take a three-run lead.
“We did a really good job fighting back when we were down and then putting up a six spot to take a lead,” Fox said.
Altoona starter Garrett McMillan allowed a solo home run in the fifth inning before leaving the game having allowed five runs on the night.
Wilkin Ramos took over in the fifth, but Portland knocked him around for three runs to retake the lead in the sixth inning. Ramos had a chance to end the inning with a double play, but third baseman Kervin Pichardo elected to get the out at home.
Blaze Jordan made the Curve pay immediately with a three-run double to give the Sea Dogs the lead.
“We just couldn’t stop the bleeding once in the sixth,” Fox said. “We had a chance to turn a double play with the bases loaded, we didn’t execute. And then things got out of hand.”
Altoona allowed another home run in the seventh inning to give Portland a 9-6 lead before bringing the tying run to the plate in the home half of the seventh, but it wouldn’t go the way of the Curve as Hudson Head struckout to end the game.
“I thought we did a good job bouncing back in the second game,” Fox said. “We didn’t fold up the tents and we were able to get things going and scored six runs, but again, it doesn’t help when they score nine.”
Sandlin tough
The Curve had no answers for Portland’s game one starter, David Sandlin.
He tossed all seven innings for the win and was dominant throughout.
The righty allowed only three hits, and no Altoona baserunner past second base while striking out eight in the shutout.
Too many Ks
The Altoona offense fought a tough battle with the strikeout in both games as the Curve racked up a total of 19 strikeouts.
Altoona hitters totaled eight in game one against Sandlin before subjecting themselves to 11 more in game two against four different Portland pitchers.
Records
With the defeats, Altoona dropped to 22-26 in the standings. Portland is now 26-19.
Up next
Altoona sends Wilber Dotel to the mound Friday night. Dotel is 1-1 with a 3.43 ERA on the season.
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