Curve Claim First Series Sweep

Thursday's game was one of move and countermove. The Curve twice took one-run leads, first on Gonzalez's leadoff home run in the top of the third and again on the second baseman's RBI double in the seventh, only to see the Baysox draw even in the bottom half of those innings. Altoona's offense worked to support a stellar outing from right-hander Irwin who limited Bowie to just those two runs on eight hits over his night.

Irwin departed his second start of the season for the Curve in a dicey situation with runners at first and third, one out, and a run already home for the Baysox in a 2-2 game in the bottom of the seventh. Reliever Jonathan Ramos (1-0) held the line, though, striking out Robbie Widlansky and snaring a line drive back to the mound off the bat of Zelous Wheeler to quell the uprising.

With the game still even, the Curve went to work in the top of the eighth. Robbie Grossman led off the inning with a walk and went first to third on a one-out error charged to Manny Machado on a Tony Sanchez liner that got through the shortstop and into left field. One batter later, Matt Curry laced a liner to center field that proved deep enough to score Grossman with the eventual game-winning run and hand the loss to reliever Chris Petrini (0-1).

Durham added a solo shot off Pat Egan in the ninth for the game's final margin. It was Durham's fourth hit in three games since returning to the Curve from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.