ALTOONA, PA - Despite doubling the Altoona Curve (12-12) hit total, the Erie SeaWolves (10-11) were done in by a four-run sixth inning and eventually falling 5-3, on Tuesday night at People's Natural Gas Field. Erie has now scored four runs or less in their past seven games.After the SeaWolves
ALTOONA, PA - Despite doubling the Altoona Curve (12-12) hit total, the Erie SeaWolves (10-11) were done in by a four-run sixth inning and eventually falling 5-3, on Tuesday night at People's Natural Gas Field. Erie has now scored four runs or less in their past seven games.
After the SeaWolves struck first with an unearned run in the top of the third, Altoona responded against starter Matt Manning in the bottom half of the frame. After retiring the first eight batters he faced - struck out six - Manning allowed a two-out walk and triple to tie the game at 1-1.
In the Erie sixth, a one-out single by Kody Eaves was followed by a Josh Lester RBI double, giving the SeaWolves a 2-1 advantage heading into the bottom of the sixth. Again, the Curve had an answer for Manning, who was tagged for four runs on three hits, including a Hunter Owen two-run home run. It was the first allowed long ball by Manning this season.
That blast would prove to be the difference as Erie scraped one across in the seventh on a two-out RBI single from Isaac Paredes, but Altoona reliver Blake Weiman came on to record the final out. After a 1-2-3 eighth, closer Matt Eckleman came on to finish the ninth and earn his fourth save in as many tries.
Jose Azocar racked up his team-leading eighth multi-hit game and elevated his batting average to .371, now third-best in the Eastern League. Manning also fanned nine Curve batters, one off his career of 10, which he recorded on April 10th vs. Altoona.
Erie will try to claim the series in tomorrow's morning rubber match at 10:35 a.m. ET. They seek another stellar start from RHP Alex Faedo (1-1, 3.52 ERA), who is coming off 7.0 no-hit innings vs. Bowie on April 24th. Faedo will face RHP James Marvel (3-1, 1.52 ERA) and the game can be heard on Fox Sports Radio 1330 AM, SeaWolves.com, or seen on MiLB.TV. And be sure to mark your calendars, as the SeaWolves return to UPMC Park on Thursday, May 2nd for a seven-game homestand, featuring four game against Bowie and the final three against the Akron RubberDucks.
