Lambo Homers, But Curve Fall 6-3
Win: Jay Voss (5-4)
Loss: Mike Colla (4-6)
Save: Luis Marte (1)
Attendance: 2,255
TOG: 2:28
ERIE, Pa. - In a game that featured spectacular defensive plays on both sides of the ball, it was a fourth-inning home run that was the game-winning hit for the Erie SeaWolves against the Altoona Curve as the SeaWolves added to their lead and went on to win the first of a four game series by the score of 6-3 on Thursday in Erie, Pa.
The Curve got on the board first in the second inning after both starting pitchers worked perfect first innings, as Andrew Lambo hit a laser line-drive home run over the wall in right, his second of the season, to give the Curve a 1-0 lead. However, the lead would be short-lived.
In the bottom of the second, off Curve starter Mike Colla, Bryan Pounds led off with a double to left, followed by three straight singles. After an RBI groundout, the SeaWolves would score three runs in the inning and go from trailing to ahead by two runs at 3-1.
With a two-run lead, SeaWolves starter Jay Voss struggled to find the strike zone in the fourth as he walked the first two batters he faced, and after a sacrifice bunt, Kris Watts and Brad Chalk hit back-to-back RBI singles to tie the game at three.
Early on, the game was a back-and-forth affair as in the bottom of the fourth, Audy Ciriaco hit a solo home run off Colla as the inning's first batter to regain the lead for good for the SeaWolves at 4-3.
After a clean fifth, Colla was lifted after his second walk in the sixth as he worked 5.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits with four strikeouts and three walks. After Colla, Bryan Morris came on and allowed a single to center, however, Starling Marte came up firing to home plate and made a perfect throw to Tony Sanchez who made a tremendous catch while being hit by the runner to hang on to the ball and end the inning.
Voss went six innings as the starter for the SeaWolves and he allowed three runs as he was lifted to start the seventh in favor of righty Luis Marte.
In the eighth, the Curve called upon Anthony Claggett, after 1.1 scoreless from Morris, and after a groundout to start the inning, he allowed three straight hits, including a two-run double by Bryan Holaday to extend the advantage to 6-3.
Marte, who came on in relief in the seventh, remained in to finish the ballgame and earn a three-inning save, his first save of the season.
The loss is the sixth straight for the Curve as they fall to a season-worst 16 games below .500.
The Curve (37-53) and the SeaWolves (44-47) will square up for the second game of their series on Friday. For the Curve, RHP Kyle McPherson (4-5, 3.47) will make the start and he will be opposed by RHP Jacob Turner (3-3, 3.49). Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. at Jerry Uht Park in Erie, Pa. with pregame coverage on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network will begin at 6:35 p.m.
-CURVE-