From the Altoona Curve:
Frazier Goes Downtown in 11-7 Win at Erie
Altoona’s centerfielder finished the game a double shy of the cycle
ERIE, PA – The Curve hit three home runs and got a brilliant start from lefty Omar Cruz in Altoona’s series opening 11-7 victory over the Erie SeaWolves on Tuesday night at UPMC Park.
Matthew Fraizer recorded his third straight multi-hit game, finishing a double shy of the cycle as part of a 3-for-5 day at the plate. Frazier played the first run for Altoona with an RBI triple off the wall in right-center in the second inning and after a walk from Josh Bissonette, Connor Kaiser smashed a three-run homer off Erie starter A.J. Ladwig to take a 4-1 advantage for the Curve. In the third inning, the Curve added two more runs with an RBI double from Mason Martin and a run-scoring single from Fraizer.
With six early runs on the supporting him, Cruz put together one of his best starts of the campaign. Erie rallied with two singles and a walk to start the bottom of the first, but the 22-year-old left-hander limited the damage to a Kerry Carpenter sac fly to get out of the inning. Cruz allowed one baserunner over his final five innings – a Riley Greene walk in the third, who was erased on an inning-ending double play – and earned his second win with Altoona. He matched his career-high with 6.0 innings and struck out six on 77 pitches, 46 strikes. Cruz retired 17-of-18 batters after Spencer Torkelson’s single to load the bases in the first.
Fraizer added a solo homer in the seventh inning and Diego Castillo swatted an opposite field two-run blast to pad the Curve lead late in the game. Castillo’s blast was his second hit of the game, he extended his hit streak to eight straight games.
Erie rallied for six runs over the final three innings against righty Alex Manasa who made his Double-A debut on Tuesday night. Manasa surrendered three runs in the seventh inning and three more in the ninth before the Curve turned to righty Shea Murray to finish off the game. Murray needed just 12 pitches to dispatch Ryan Kreidler and Torkelson with a man at second and secure the 11-7 win.
Every Curve batter reached base safely in the game, with all but Bissonette recording at least one hit. Jack Suwinski earned three walks, doubled and scored three runs in the win. Carter Bins added his fifth RBI with Altoona in eight games with a fifth inning single.
The Curve continue their six-game series with the SeaWolves, Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. RHP Travis MacGregor (3-4, 5.09) will start for Altoona, with LHP Joey Wentz (0-4, 4.50) slated for Erie.
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