Curve Sweep Double-Dip Over Erie

CURVE, Pa. - Altoona came out firing on all cylinders Saturday night en route to a doubleheader sweep of Erie with wins of 5-1 and 1-0.  It was the first time this season that the Curve were able to win a pair of games played on the same day as they had previously been 2-10 in such contests.

Phil Irwin (2-7) was once again the story in Game 1 as the right hander continued his string of stellar pitching performances with a seven-inning complete game to lead the Curve to the win.  Irwin didn't allow a hit through the first 3.1 innings before Brandon Douglas singled with one out in the fourth.  All told, Irwin gave up the one run on four hits while striking out four and not walking a batter.

In his last five starts combined, Irwin has pitched a total of 35 innings, permitted five earned runs and struck out 27 batters.

The offense came to his side early as the Curve scored three times off Brian Flynn (0-1), who was making his Double-A debut after being called up from Lakeland.  Matt Curry started the scoring with a sac fly before Quincy Latimore drove home Adalberto Santos for the inning's second run.  Ramon Cabrera continued the offensive surge and doubled in Latimore from second later in the inning to make it 3-0.

It was Latimore again in the third, this time delivering a two-run blast to left field that put Altoona squarely in front, 5-0.  The homer was the 12^th of the season for Latimore as he continues to lead the team.

The second game of the night was much more of a pitcher's duel as both spot starters Mike Colla and Jared Gayhart pitched tremendously well through four.  Colla gave up just two hits while striking out five and not walking a batter before turning things over to Jeff Inman (2-2) for the fifth and sixth.  Inman kept the game scoreless and did his part to help set up the Curve offense in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Altoona was able to finally break through against Robbie Weinhardt (0-2) when Brock Holt singled with one out.  Santos followed Holt and Holt actually broke for second on a pitch out during Santos' at bat.  The speedy shortstop was able to beat the throw and slid safely in to second base representing the go-ahead run.

Santos wound up working a walk before Curry came to the plate and singled through the right side to bring home Holt.  The one run would be all the Curve needed in Game 2 as Vic Black came on for the ninth.  The All-Star walked the first batter he faced in Jordan Lennerton, who was immediately replaced with pinch runner Brandon Douglas.  Black followed the walk with a strikeout of Avisail Garcia but Douglas was able to get to second on a throwing error by Black on a failed pickoff attempt.

Rawley Bishop came up next with the tying run at second and one down and worked the second walk of the inning to put two on with one down.  Black got a huge break when a ball hit the dirt during Tony Plagman's at bat and Douglas tried to break for third.  Charlie Cutler immediately came up with the ball in the dirt and fired a strike to third to nail Douglas.  Black then struck out Plagman to end the ballgame.

--Curve Media Relations--