Alemais homers as Senators get big night from Murphy

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy drove in six runs for the Harrisburg Senators on Sunday during his Major League rehab stint as the Altoona Curve fell, 7-2, at FNB Field.
The Curve (22-23) outhit the Senators (23-24), 7-5, but two big swings by Murphy was plenty of run support paired with a strong effort from Harrisburg starting pitcher Kyle McGowin (Win, 2-0).
Harrisburg made Curve starter Taylor Hearn (Loss, 1-4) labor through 38 pitches in the third inning and loaded the bases for Murphy after two walks and a fielding error by Stephen Alemais at second base. Murphy split the left-center gap and cleared the bases for a three-run double to break a scoreless tie. Hearn was removed after 2.2 innings and allowed one hit, Murphy's double, while all three runs he allowed were unearned. Harrisburg fouled off eight pitches with two strikes against Hearn during his third frame with four full counts.
Murphy broke open a one-run game in the fifth with a three-run homer against Logan Sendelbach . After two, one-out singles, Murphy fouled off three straight full-count pitches off Sendelbach before he sent the ninth pitch of the at bat over the right field wall.
Alemais cracked his first home run at the Double-A level in the fourth inning. His two-run shot put Altoona within one run at the time and was the only time the Curve had a runner past third base.
Harrisburg added one run late in the seventh inning against reliever Jake Brentz . The Curve lefty struck out the side but lost Osvaldo Abreu to a walk with two outs. Abreu stole second and scored on a pinch-hit single by Austin Davidson.
Ke'Bryan Hayes went 2-for-4 with two doubles to join Alemais, 2-for-3 and a walk, as the only multi-hit performers. Tate Scioneaux fired two perfect innings of relief with two strikeouts.
McGowin fanned 10 Curve batters over a six-inning start for Harrisburg and allowed six hits. In his previous start, McGowin struck out 10 Erie SeaWolves on May 22.
The Curve finish their seven-game road trip and four-game series against the Senators on Memorial Day at noon. Right-hander Austin Coley (1-3, 9.64 at Triple-A) takes the hill for Altoona and Harrisburg will start righty Luis Reyes (4-4, 4.56).
The Curve return home for a brief, three-game homestand against the Akron RubberDucks starting on Tuesday. For tickets or more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office.
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