Disappointing Opening Act for Alvarez

ERIE, PA – A close game early on was broken open by the Erie SeaWolves who defeated Altoona 6-2 Tuesday night at Jerry Uht Park. 

 Erie got the scoring started in the fourth inning when Alex Avila singled home Deik Scram and Cale Iorg scored on a sacrifice fly to put the SeaWolves up 2-0.

The Curve answered quickly in the top of the fifth inning as three of the first four Curve batters reached base.  Angel Gonzalez led off the inning with a double, Gorkys Hernandez then followed with a single.  Gonzalez would score on a Jim Negrych groundout and Jose Tabata singled in Hernandez to tie the game at two runs apiece.

The SeaWolves then began to pull away adding a run in the sixth on an Andy Dirks single and then adding three more runs in the seventh on hits by Scram, Iorg, and Mike Hollimon and the SeaWolves then had a 6-2 lead.  Iorg finished the night 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Three Curve newcomers were in action Tuesday.  Pirates’ first round draft pick Pedro Alvarez finished his Curve debut 0-for-4 with three strikeouts while right handed relieved Dustin Molleken (0-1) threw 1.1 innings and allowed four runs on four hits with one strikeout and was credited with the loss. RHP Mike Dubee came on and threw a scoreless eighth allowing no hits and striking out one.

Tabata and Hernandez led the Curve bats Tuesday with Tabata going 2-for-3 with an RBI and Hernandez had a 2-for-4 night with a double and a run scored.

Altoona (24-46) will try to put a halt to a two game losing streak Wednesday night against the SeaWolves (40-29).  The Curve will throw right hander Derek Hankins (0-1, 6.00) in his first start of the season and Erie will counter with Luis Marte (5-6, 4.12).  First pitch for Wednesday’s contest is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with radio coverage starting at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network.

(altoonacurve.com)