EL1 Altoona Curve

Sea Dogs Continue Dominance over Curve on Saturday

Published on June 21, 2014 under Eastern League (EL1)
Altoona Curve News Release


PORTLAND, Maine - The Curve's troubles with the Portland Sea Dogs continued on Saturday night as they were once again bested in a pair of games at Hadlock Field. In the first game, Wily Garcia had a homer and two outfield assists but the Curve fell, 5-1. In the second game, Drew Maggi led off the game with a homer but it wasn't enough in a, 3-2, loss. With the wins on Saturday, Portland has won all five games of the season series so far with the Curve.

In the first game, Portland once again wasted no time in hitting Curve starter Joely Rodriguez (3-6) as they put up three runs in the first inning thanks to a bases-clearing double by David Chester.

Rodriguez settled in a bit from there and got a tad bit of help from his offense when Garcia blasted his solo homer in the second deep into the night sky above the Maine Monster. That, however, was the only time the Curve scored in the first game.

Garcia put his arm on display in the first game as well with a pair of outfield assists. In the third inning, he fell down trying to get to a ball off the bat of Sean Coyle. He recovered, however, and got up to make the catch before firing a strike to first to double off Deven Marrero.

An inning later, Keon Broxton dropped a fly ball in center but Garcia was right there to pick it up and throw out Matt Spring who was trying to turn it into a two-base error. All told, Garcia now has 12 outfield assists in 2014 and is already six shy of the franchise-best mark of 18 set by Starling Marte in 2011.

Rodriguez took the loss in the first game after allowing five runs in his six innings. Portland's Brian Johnson (6-1) nabbed the win with his seven-inning complete game.

In the second game, Maggi led off the game with a homer to give the Curve their first lead of the season versus Portland. It was also the second homer to lead off the game for the Curve, joining the homer than Alen Hanson hit in Erie on May 1.

Unfortunately, Portland came right back to tie it in the bottom of the inning on a Blake Swihart RBI single. The game stayed tied until the third when Marrero hit a sac fly that scored Heiker Meneses from third. Swihart followed with a solo homer that put the 'Dogs up, 3-1.

That's where the game stayed until the seventh when a pair of Sea Dogs errors allowed Kelson Brown to score and bring the Curve within one. Noe Ramirez buttoned down the game though, inducing a game-ending groundout off the bat of Andy Vasquez.

Junior Sosa had two hits in the second game and has now hit in three straight games. Matt Benedict (0-5) nearly finished five innings in the second game but was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs (one earned) in 4.2 innings.

Altoona (26-47) will hope to avoid a season-series sweep at the hands of the Sea Dogs (49-25) in the final game the two teams will play against one another at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon. RHP Adrian Sampson (4-4, 2.15) will take the bump for the Curve while Mike Augliera (3-5, 4.95) starts for the Sea Dogs.

Airtime on ESPN Radio 1430, WVAM and the Curve Radio Network is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

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Eastern League Stories from June 21, 2014


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