Hope's First SeaWolves Home Run Not Enough Against Curve

ERIE, PA - Zyhir Hope blasted his first home run in an Erie SeaWolves (24-12, 60-44) uniform just before Josue Briceño went back-to-back for his seventh home run in 15 games, but despite the power from the middle of the order, a five-run seventh inning for the Altoona Curve (16-20, 47-58) was too much to overcome in a 10-6 loss at UPMC Park on Thursday night.

The opening innings were the beginnings of yet another pitcher's duel. Andrew Sears did not allow a run over the first four innings for Erie, striking out five. Matt Ager matched him stride-for-stride with five shutout innings and only two hits allowed.

Altoona's offense struck the first blow of the game. Matt King doubled with two outs in the fifth to chase Sears from the game. Keiner Delgado singled him home to put the Curve on the board against SeaWolves reliever Dariel Fregio. Jesus Castillo drew a follow-up walk, and Lonnie White Jr. crushed a three-run home run to make it a four-run inning. Altoona added on in the sixth with a leadoff home run from Callan Moss to make it 5-0.

Erie responded in the bottom of the sixth. Patrick Lee led off with a single and swiped second base for his eleventh steal of the season. Hope stepped to the plate and launched his first SeaWolves' hit and home run out to dead center field. Josue Briceño sent a second straight ball out of the park to right to cut the Altoona lead to 5-3, his second homer in as many days.

Altoona answered right away as Keiner Delgado smashed a leadoff home run in the seventh. White Jr. reached base on a one-out double before Murf Gray walked. Callan Moss singled home Delgado, then Easton Carmichael ripped a double to clear the bases and make it a 9-3 game. Will Taylor struck one last blow with an RBI-single to extend the lead to 10-3.

Erie made a final push in the eighth. Hope and Briceño each walked to lead off the inning, then Andrew Jenkins singled to load the bases. Izaac Pacheco scored two runs when he grounded a ball underneath the glove of the first baseman Moss. EJ Exposito grounded into a double play to score one more and make it 10-6 before the inning came to an end.

The loss went to Andrew Sears despite the lefty allowing just one run. Matt Ager earned the win with six innings of three-run baseball.

Erie hits the second half of the series tomorrow at 6:05 PM. Carlos Peña pitches for the SeaWolves against Nick Dombkowski for the Curve. Erie has a chance to even the series at two with a win.

Single-game tickets, suites, picnics, The Club by Synchrony events, and Bud Light Party Deck groups are now available by visiting SeaWolves.com, calling 814-456-1300, or visiting the UPMC Park Box Office in person.