The Portland Sea Dogs started Thursday afternoon's game with three runs on six consecutive hits, but a five-run seventh inning by the Altoona Curve was the difference, as Altoona completed the three-game sweep with a 7-4 win at Blair County Ballpark.
Altoona starter Jared Hughes came out ready to throw strikes, but the Sea Dogs' bats were up to the task. Portland greeted the league's leader in wins with six consecutive singles to begin the top of the first. Che-Hsuan Lin and Nate Spears started the rally, with Lin scoring on Ray Chang's hit. Luis Exposito followed with an RBI single of his own, before Anthony Rizzo's hit loaded the bases. Yamaico Navarro had the last of the six straight hits, singling through the left side, scoring Chang with the third run of the inning.
The Curve were also quick to get onto the scoreboard, as they got one run back in the bottom half of the first. Chase d'Arnaud walked, then stole second and third. After Gorkys Hernandez grounded out to short, Josh Harrison doubled down the left field line, easily scoring d'Arnaud. Altoona scored again in the third, as Shelby Ford led off the frame with a solo home run.
Two innings later, Portland got one of the runs back. Following a pair of quick outs, Ray Chang took a 3-1 pitch, and deposited it over the left field wall for his fourth home run of the season. Chang spent parts of two seasons with the Curve, hitting two long balls in 46 games.
The bottom of the fifth was Stephen Fife's final inning on the mound, and he finished his outing in style, striking out two of the three batters in the frame. In five innings of work, the Portland starter allowed two runs, four hits, and two walks, while striking out five. Jared Hughes lasted a little bit longer for Altoona, going seven innings, allowing four runs, eight hits, and one walk, while striking out five.
Mitch Herold tossed a scoreless sixth inning out of the bullpen, but ran into trouble in the seventh. Altoona started the inning with five straight baserunners on four hits and one walk. Miles Durham's triple and Shelby Ford's single produced one run each, as the Curve tied the game at four. After a Gorkys Hernandez strikeout, Josh Harrison put the home team on top, doubling to right-center. Matt Hague added an RBI groundout, as a 4-2 deficit suddenly became a 7-4 lead for Altoona.
The Curve's rally put Jared Hughes (10-3) in line for the win, while Mitch Herold (1-2) suffered the loss. Tony Watson struck out the side in the eighth, then finished his second save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
The Sea Dogs will begin a new series on Friday, as they travel to New Britain to face the Rock Cats. The series opener will begin at 6:35, with Portland's Kyle Weiland (3-4, 3.81) facing New Britain's Deolis Guerra (1-3, 2.88).
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