Senators Drub Curve 14-2 for Sixth Win in a Row

The Harrisburg Senators demolished the Altoona Curve 14-2 to win their sixth consecutive game. Brady Dragmire worked eight strong innings while the Senators offense recorded a new season-high in runs scored. 

The Senators scored in each of the first three innings, starting with a pair in the first against Altoona starter Brandon Waddell. After a Kelvin Gutierrez single, Dan Gamache doubled into left center to plate the first run. The next batter, Taylor Gushue, singled in Gamache to make it 2-0 Senators. 
Gutierrez added a run with a sacrifice fly in the second.
The Senators doubled the lead in the sixth. Following walks by Gushue and Adam Walker, Osvaldo Abreu hit a three-run home run to left to put the club up 6-0. 
Senators starter Brady Dragmire tossed four shutout innings before the Curve plated a pair of runs in the fifth on a balk and a sacrifice fly by Cole Tucker.
Gushue plated another Senators run in the bottom of the frame by launching a Waddell pitch into the left field seats for his third home run of the season. 
Waddell (2-1) surrendered seven runs across five innings while walking five and striking out two. 
The Senators doubled their score with a seven-run outburst in the eighth on three hits, five walks, an error and a passed ball. 
Dragmire (4-2) allowed just two runs on six hits over eight innings while striking out five and walking none. The right-hander tied a career-high in innings pitched and threw 70 of his 90 pitches for strikes.
"He did a nice job. He pounded the zone and attacked hitters," Senators manager Matt LeCroy said. "Unfortunately the eighth inning took a little too long and I didn't want to risk injury with him going back out (in the ninth)."
Jaron Long finished the game with a perfect ninth to complete the 14-2 victor
Gushue, Dragmire and Khayyan Norfork all finished with a pair of hits, while Abreu paced the team with three RBI, all on the home run.
"I'm proud of the offense. They came out and had some really good at-bats against a really good pitcher," LeCroy said. "A lot of times when you score early like that, guys tend to waste at-bats. Tonight, we did a good job of staying on it." 
The Senators have won six straight games for the first time since May 16 to May 23, 2016.  
"We're doing a lot of good things right now," LeCroy said. "We've thrown the ball extremely well, played good defense and our offense has come around." 
The Senators and Curve play game two of the series Saturday night. Jefry Rodriguez starts for the Senators opposite Altoona starter Mitch Keller. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at FNB Field. The game can be heard on CBS Sports Harrisburg 96.5 & 95.3 FM and 1400 AM or at www.cbssportsharrisburg.com beginning at 5:45 p.m.