Three-run first inning holds in Curve win

ERIE, Pa. - Three straight run-scoring hits in the first inning lifted the Altoona Curve to a 4-2 win over the Erie SeaWolves on Saturday night at UPMC Park.

The Curve (48-40) have now won six of their last seven games, including three of four in the series against the SeaWolves (42-49).
In the first inning against Erie starter Kyle Dowdy (Loss, 2-3), the Curve had five straight batters reach base to bring home three runs. Will Craig drove a double, Jordan George followed with a single and Logan Hill added an RBI single to open an early 3-0 lead.
Tweet from @AltoonaCurve: Make it a three-run first inning as Logan Hill drives in @WCraigers22 Hill has 10 RBIs over his last eight games pic.twitter.com/s21GMNaYcC
Altoona starter Austin Coley, who was pitched for the first time since May, worked three scoreless innings.
Erie broke onto the scoreboard in the fifth inning against reliver Tate Scioneaux (Win, 2-1) with a sacrifice fly by Will Maddox. Scioneaux allowed one run over his three innings.
The Curve loaded the bases with one out in the seventh before a bases-loaded walk by George brought in a run to extend the lead to 4-1. Sandy Baez struck out the next two batters to strand the bases loaded.
In the eighth, the Curve loaded the bases against Baez again with one out, but did not score.
Erie closed within two with an RBI single by Maddox in the bottom of the ninth, but Matt Eckelman (Save, 3) worked out of a two-on, one-out jam to close out the game.
Altoona reliever Geoff Hartlieb (Hold, 1) threw a 1-2-3 seventh inning.
George finished the game with two hits, a walk and two RBIs. Bryan Reynolds worked three walks and scored a run. Alfredo Reyes went 2-for-4.
The Curve and SeaWolves conclude the four-day, five-game series on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Pedro Vasquez (2-5, 4.65) will start for the Curve, opposed by SeaWolves right-hander Beau Burrows (6-6, 3.83). First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. at UPMC Park.
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