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HARRISBURG- Melvin Dorta recorded his first career two-home run game, but the Harrisburg Senators edged the Curve, 4-3, in the opener of a four-game series Friday evening at Commerce Bank Park in Harrisburg. Friday’s game also opened an eight-game Curve road trip, which also includes a four-game set at Trenton next week.

Dorta, who spent parts of four seasons with Harrisburg from 2004-07, hit the first of his two longballs -- a two-run shot off starter Jordan Zimmermann -- in the sixth inning to cut the Senators lead in half at 4-2. In the eighth, against reliever Steve Schmoll, Dorta drilled his second home run to cut the deficit to 4-3.

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However, Dorta's heroics weren't enough as Harrisburg closer Adam Carr held the Curve off the board in the top of the ninth to secure a Senators' victory before a season-high crowd of 5,663 at Commerce Bank Park.

Zimmermann (5-2) earned the victory in his re-match with Altoona starter Kyle Bloom. Both pitchers received a no-decision in last Sunday's 4-3, 10-inning Curve win at Blair County Ballpark. Zimmermann allowed only two runs and four hits over seven innings to notch the win.

Bloom (2-5) took the loss after yielding four runs -- three earned -- and seven hits over six innings. The left-hander had allowed only one earned run over his last three starts, which included his first two wins of the season July 9 at Trenton and July 14 at Erie. Bloom was touched up for a two-run, first-inning home run by center fielder Mike Daniel and two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, which scored thanks in part to three Curve errors in the frame.

Altoona managed only three hits in addition to Dorta's two home runs. Bloom, Luis Cruz and Steve Lerud recorded the other hits. Dorta becomes just the second Curve player this season to record a two-homer game. James Boone hit a pair of longballs in the Curve's April 18 game against Erie.

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