ERIE, PA - The Erie SeaWolves (23-11, 59-43) opened the series against the Altoona Curve (15-19, 46-57) bullpen and struggled to generate any offense in a 2-0 loss against their cross-state rivals. Dominic Pipkin, Josh Loeschorn and Landon Tomkins combined for the nine scoreless on the mound for the Curve on Tuesday night at UPMC Park.
Erie sent Colin Fields to the mound as the opener in a bullpen game of their own. Fields was sharp through his two scoreless innings of work. The righty struck out five of the six outs he recorded and allowed only one hit while walking just one.
The SeaWolves' bats started fast with a Peyton Graham single to open the game. Pipkin allowed Graham to second on a pickoff throw got away from first baseman Callan Moss, but the righty set down the next three he faced in the opening frame.
Eric Silva picked up where Fields left off for Erie with three scoreless innings to force the game to the fifth. Silva punched out four batters and also allowed just one hit along with a single walk.
The only offensive damage on the evening came in the sixth inning. Zane Barnhart entered to pitch in his second appearance for the SeaWolves since being acquired from the Orioles organization in a trade last week. Lonnie White Jr. smacked a single with one out and Callan Moss smashed a two-run home run to left-center field to give Altoona a 2-0 lead.
Wandisson Charles and Tanner Kohlhepp each turned in scoreless late innings of relief on the mound to give the SeaWolves a chance at a comeback. Charles fanned two of the three hitters that he faced in the eighth.
The SeaWolves bats did not muster a hit in the third through eighth innings, but the offense showed signs of life in the ninth. Peyton Graham led off with a single and Josue Briceño pushed him to third on a base hit with one out. Tomkins struck out each of the next two Erie hitters to end the game in his third inning of work.
Tuesday night's game also saw the debut of Tigers No. 2 prospect (MLB No. 25) Zyhir Hope after he was acquired from the Dodgers as the centerpiece of the Tarik Skubal trade on Saturday night. Hope ripped two lineouts at 95+ mph, but finished the night 0-for-3 with a walk.
The SeaWolves have the opportunity to even the series tomorrow at 12:35 PM. Hayden Minton gets the start for the Erie. The right-hander's ERA sits at 1.88 after he fired his third start of his last four without allowing a run last week.
Single-game tickets, suites, picnics, The Club by Synchrony events, and Bud Light Party Deck groups are now available by visiting SeaWolves.com, calling 814-456-1300, or visiting the UPMC Park Box Office in person.