Curve cruise to 8-4 win in Bowie, take 2-0 lead in Division Series

BOWIE, Md. - Behind a 12-hit offensive attack, the Altoona Curve topped the Bowie Baysox, 8-4, on Friday night at Prince George's Stadium to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern League Western Division Series.

Tied 3-3 in the fifth, Elvis Escobar drove home the go-ahead run with an RBI double. Two batters later, Michael Suchy clubbed an RBI double of his own and Mitchell Tolman ripped an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-3.
Tweet from @AltoonaCurve: SUCHY 💣A two-run blast by Michael Suchy pushes the Curve lead to 8-4 in the seventh inning pic.twitter.com/f2LtyFAi6z
 
The Baysox cut the deficit to 6-4 when Cedric Mullins hit a solo home run, but that is as close as Bowie came to Altoona's lead.
 
The Curve struck first for three runs in the third inning. Jerrick Suiter started the scoring with an RBI double and Escobar added a two-run single to put Altoona in front, 3-0.
Tweet from @AltoonaCurve: Elvis Escobar doubles to put the Curve back in front, helped by some good hustle by @wmathisen_4 pic.twitter.com/lUy8pfCIsc
 
Bowie quickly tied the score with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Ryan Mountcastle brought home a run with a ground out and Eastern League MVP Garabez Rosa launched a two-run homer to tie the game, 3-3.
 
Suchy put the game out of reach with a two-run blast in the seventh inning, his third hit of the game and the Curve's first homer of the series.
 
Wyatt Mathisen reached base in all five of his plate appearances on Friday. He had two singles, two walks and was hit by a pitch.
 
Curve starter Alex McRae (Win, 1-0) allowed four earned runs on four hits in six innings. Yeudy Garcia pitched two scoreless innings and Tate Scioneaux closed out the game with a scoreless ninth.
Tweet from @AltoonaCurve: .@AlexMcRae2 strands a runner at third to close out a scoreless first inningOff to the second. No score in Bowie. pic.twitter.com/SF9vISNtMx
 
Baysox starter Tanner Scott surrendered three earned runs on three hits in 2.2 innings. Alec Asher (Loss, 0-1 gave up three earned runs on five hits in 1.2 innings.
 
The series will continue on Saturday with Game Three of the Western Division Series. Altoona will send right-hander Austin Coley (6-4, 3.01) to the mound and Bowie will counter with righty Lucas Long (9-6, 2.95). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Peoples Natural Gas Field in Altoona.
 
Due to a rainout in Bowie on Thursday that moved the series back one day, fans will be able to use "Game A" tickets on Saturday, their "Game B" tickets will be good for Game Four (if necessary) on Sunday (Time TBD) and "Game C" tickets will be good for Game Five (if necessary) on Monday (Time TBD).
 
For tickets or more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the Peoples Natural Gas Field box office.
 
-CURVE-