Curve Drop Fourth Straight In 7-3 Loss to 'Wolves
Loss: Phil Irwin (0-1)
Save: --
TOG: 2:41
Attendance: 3,121
ERIE, Pa. - The SeaWolves offense once again proved too much for Curve pitching in a, 7-3, defeat on Friday night at Jerry Uht Park. Jeremy Farrell cranked his first home run of the year in a losing effort for the Curve, who have dropped four straight since taking three of four from Richmond last weekend in Curve, Pa.
Phil Irwin (0-1) had his 2012 Curve debut spoiled by the SeaWolves as they scored four runs in five innings off the Curve starter. Friday night's game began much like Thursday night's with Erie scoring two early runs in the first. Niuman Romero doubled to start the game and came in two batters later when Rob Brantly grounded out to the right side. Jordan Lennerton followed Brantly's RBI groundout with a home run, his seventh of the year, and Erie led, 2-0.
Altoona had an early answer for Erie's two runs in the first thanks to Farrell, who's home run in the second cut the 'Wolves lead to one, but it would be short-lived as Erie once again had an immediate response in the bottom of the inning. Michael Rockett brought Ben Guez in from third with a sac fly and Erie's lead was back to two at, 3-1.
The see-saw scoring continued in the fourth when SeaWolves starter Jared Wesson fell victim to control issues and walked Ramon Cabrera, Farrell and Charlie Cutler to load the bases with one out. Quincy Latimore came to the dish looking to put the Curve ahead but struck out for the second out of the inning. Wesson's fourth walk of the frame came to Kelson Brown and it brought Cabrera in from third to once again make it a one-run game.
That marked the end for Wesson, who lasted 3.2 innings and walked four, as Erie went to its bullpen and reliever Mark Sorensen (1-2). Robbie Grossman was the first man up against the new 'Wolves hurler and Grossman hit a weak ground ball to third that saw Sorensen field and throw out Farrell at home to end the inning.
The one-run deficit was the closest Altoona would get on Friday night as the 'Wolves plated another run off Irwin in the fifth to extend the lead back to two. Irwin finished five innings in his first Double-A start of 2012 and allowed four runs on five hits. Shairon Martis pitched the remaining three innings and permitted three runs, two on back-to-back solo home runs by Guez and Corey Jones in the sixth.
Tony Sanchez finished the game on Friday night 0-for-5 and saw his 19-game on-base streak come to a close. Sanchez had reached base safely in every game since April 10th prior to tonight.
Altoona (13-20) and Erie (16-17) will play the third game of the four-game series beginning at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday night from Jerry Uht Park in Erie. RHP Brandon Cumpton (4-2, 3.44) takes to the center of the diamond for the Curve in search of his fifth straight victory while RHP James Avery (4-2, 2.70) takes the mound for Erie.
Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. For tickets and more information on the upcoming Curve homestand beginning Friday, May 18, call 877.99.CURVE, visit www.AltoonaCurve.com or stop by the box office windows at Peoples Natural Gas Field
-CURVE-