Offense Stays Hot as they Hunt Ducks, 9-4
Win: Jason Creasy (2-0)
Loss: Shawn Morimando (1-2)
Save: --
TOG: 2,042
Attendance: 2,042
AKRON, Ohio - The Altoona Curve offense stayed locked in after the change of venue as they combined for nine runs on 15 hits in a, 9-4, thumping of Akron in the first game of the three-game series. Josh Bell went 4-for-5 while Stetson Allie and Max Moroff extended their hitting streaks to eight games apiece.
For the 13th time this year the Curve scored first as they plated a run in the first inning with Bell bringing home Keon Broxton after he doubled to start the game.
That lead was short-lived, however, as the 'Ducks plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first off Jason Creasy (2-0) with an RBI single by Anthony Gallas and a triple by Tony Wolters. After facing eight batters in the first, Creasy settled in to finish five innings and picked up his second win of the season.
After Creasy settled in, the Curve offense broke the game open in the fourth off 'Ducks starter Shawn Morimando (1-2). Bell and Willy Garcia had back-to-back singles to start the frame before Allie was retired while trying to get a bunt down. Edward Salcedo worked the walk to load the bases before Sebastian Valle mashed a double into the left-field corner. It scored Bell and Garcia to flip the scoreboard and put the Curve in front for good.
Salcedo came home later in the inning on a wild pitch while Valle also scored when Eric Wood got caught in a rundown to allow him to trot home from third.
Akron plated two runs off Creasy in the last of the fifth but he was able to work out of the jam and Akron would not score the rest of the way. Jhondaniel Medina and Josh Smith combined for four scoreless innings of relief following Creasy's five innings of work. With the four runs allowed tonight, Curve starters have permitted 10 earned runs in 87.1 IP for an ERA of 1.03.
Altoona's bats stayed locked in though with two runs in the seventh on a triple by Wood and a fourth hit of the nighty by Bell to bring Broxton in in the eighth.
Moroff's eight-game hit streak sets a new personal best while his on-base streak also runs to 14 games. Broxton, Garcia and Ngoepe all had multi-hit games. With his 1-for-3 day, Valle has himself a six-game hit streak.
Through four games on this road trip, the Curve are averaging better than eight runs per game and have eclipsed double-digit hits in three of the four wins.
Winners of five straight, the Curve (11-5) will aim for a series win with a victory in the 6:35 p.m. game Tuesday night versus Akron (9-9). LHP Zack Dodson (1-0, 0.00) will make his first start in over a week for the Curve on Tuesday night against the Ducks. He'll be opposed by RubberDucks starter RHP Mike Clevinger (0-1, 2.30).
Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 6:20 p.m.
-CURVE-