McRae sharp, offense shines in win over Portland

Altoona scored four runs in the fourth to win the series

Altoona Curve pitcher Alex McRae (Andy Grosh / MiLB.com)

By Max Gun

June 15, 2017

CURVE, Pa. - The Altoona Curve scored four runs in the fourth inning and beat the Portland Sea Dogs, 7-1, on Thursday at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

CURVE, Pa. - The Altoona Curve scored four runs in the fourth inning and beat the Portland Sea Dogs, 7-1, on Thursday at Peoples Natural Gas Field.

The Curve (35-29) bounced back to win the rubber match against Portland (29-32) and finished the seven-game homestand with a 3-4 record.
Curve starter Alex McRae (Win, 5-2) held Portland to one run on just four hits in seven innings, striking out five.
With the game tied at 1-1 in the fourth, the Curve plated four runs to take the lead.
With runners at first and second and one out, Zane Chavez lined an RBI single to left field, breaking the tie. Later in the inning, Kevin Newman hit an RBI single and Edwin Espinal plated two runs with a single of his own to extend the Curve's lead to 5-1.
Altoona made it a 7-1 game after Jerrick Suiter blasted his fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot in the eighth inning. Suiter now has four home runs over his last nine games.
Portland's only run of the game came on a solo home run from Rafael Devers, his twelfth of the season, in the fourth inning.
Sean Keselica came on in relief of McRae and pitched two scoreless innings.
The Curve have won three of their last four games.
Portland starter Trey Ball (Loss, 1-6) allowed five earned runs on eight hits in four innings, walking four. Luis Ysla allowed the home run to Suiter in the eighth inning.
The Curve will hit the road for a brief three-game road trip in Hartford on Friday to take on the Yard Goats. Altoona will send right-hander Austin Coley (1-2, 3.39) to the hill and Hartford will counter with righty Luis Niebla (1-3, 8.78). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Altoona will return home on Tuesday, June 20, to start a three-game series with the Trenton Thunder. It will be Italian Heritage Night and also Two-For-Tuesday, presented by Atlantic Broadband, featuring buy one, get one free specials on tickets, hot dogs and small popcorn.
For tickets and more information, visit AltoonaCurve.com, call 877.99.CURVE or stop by the PNG Field box office.
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