Late Home Runs Push SeaWolves Over Curve

The SeaWolves made a late charge on Sunday night in Altoona and took down the Curve 7-6 at People’s Natural Gas Field to split the six-game series.

Altoona jumped ahead in the bottom of the first against Erie starter Pedro Payano. Oneil Cruz walked, Rodolfo Castro singled and Mason Martin was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brendt Citta and Cal Mitchell followed with back-to-back two-run doubles for a 4-0 Curve lead.

Erie got on the board in the top of the third against starter Jeff Passantino. Jon Rosoff led off and bunted his way aboard. Dane Myers tripled off the wall in center to bring in the SeaWolves first run. Myers scored on a Jack Kenley base hit making it a 4-2 game.

The SeaWolves cut the Curve lead down to a run in the fourth. Dylan Rosa doubled with one out and scored on a Myers two-out single making it 4-3.

Altoona added to its lead in the seventh against Erie reliver Brad Bass. Ji-Hwan Bae led off with a single and was tripled home by Cruz. Cruz scored on a Castro sacrifice fly for a 6-3 lead.

The ‘Wolves again pulled closer in the top of the eighth against reliever Brad Case. Josh Lester walked with one out and Rosa blasted his fourth home run of the season making it 6-5.

The SeaWolves took their first lead in the ninth off of reliever Will Gardner. Riley Greene led off with a double and Ryan Kreidler followed with his team-leading fifth home run. Kreidler extended his hitting streak to eight straight games with his third home run of the series and it gave Erie a 7-6 advantage.

Cale Coshow (2-0) earned the win tossing the final 2.1 innings of the game.

Gardner (1-2) took the loss after surrendering two runs in the ninth. He did not allow a hit while walking two and striking out two.

Both starters did not factor in the decision. For Erie, Payano allowed four runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts in three innings. Passantino for Altoona allowed three runs on five hits with a walk and five strikeouts in five innings.