MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com-The SeaWolves won their third straight on Tuesday night and did it in grand fashion as they scored a season-high 19 runs, and beat the Altoona Curve 19-2 at Blair County Ballpark.

The game was scoreless into the third inning when the SeaWolves struck first against Altoona starter Tyler Herron. Andy Dirks and Danny Worth drew back-to-back walks to start the inning and Ron Bourquin singled to right, bringing home Dirks. Also on the play, an errant throw allowed Worth to score, giving Erie a 2-0 lead and putting Bourquin into scoring postion. The single extended Bourquin’s season-long hitting streak to eight straight games. Herron retired the next two before giving up a double to the right field gap by Alex Avila, scoring Bourquin for a 3-0 lead. Ryan Strieby followed and slammed his 16^thhome run of the season over the wall in left-center for a 5-0 lead.

Erie would take a commanding lead in the top of the fifth against reliever Mike Dubee. With one out, Cale Iorg hit his ninth home run of the season and second in as many games to put the ‘Wolves up 6-0. Seven of Iorg’s nine home runs have come on the road. With two outs, Strieby, Brennan Boesch and Casper Wells each singled to load the bases for Andy Dirks. Dirks sent a comebacker to the mound and on an errant throw to first by Dubee, the inning continued as Strieby scored for a 7-0 lead and the bases would remain loaded. Worth followed with a single to left, plating Boesch and Wells for a 9-0 lead.
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The ‘Wolves would strike for a second straight four-run inning in the sixth against reliever Dustin Molleken. Deik Scram singled up the middle and Iorg single to right to put two on for Avila. Avila singled to center, scoring Scram for a 10-0 lead. Strieby walked for the team-leading 46^thtime to load the bases for Boesch. Boesch sent a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Iorg for an 11-0 lead. A walk to Wells would reload the bases for Dirks. Dirks grounded to third and third baseman Pedro Alvarez was only able to get the runner at second as Dirks beat out the throw to first, averting a double play, scoring Avila for a 12-0 lead. Worth would follow with his third single of the game, scoring Strieby for a 13-0 lead.

Altoona would get on the board in the bottom of the sixth against Erie starter Jonah Nickerson. Jim Negrych led off would a double, moved to third on a groundout by Jeff Corsaletti and scored on a sacrifice fly by Steve Lerud making it 13-1. In the seventh, Alvarez hit a one-out home run to left to and the solo shot made it 13-2. Altoona would get no closer.

The Howlers would totally put the game out of reach in the top of the eighth. Shawn Roof led off and was hit by a pitch. Santo De Leon doubled for the third straight game putting runners on second and third for Dirks. Dirks walked for the second time loading the bases for Bourquin. Bourquin came up with his second RBI as he hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Roof for a 14-2 lead. Scram then singled home De Leon to make it 15-2 and Iorg hit into a fielder’s choice scoring Worth to make it 17-2. The night’s scoring was capped off when Avila turned on a Scott Nestor fastball and blasted off to right field for his eighth home run to make it 19-2.

Nickerson improved his record to 6-6 as he went 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on 11 hits with two walks and a strikeout. Nickerson has won back-to-back decisions for the first time since early May. He has gone at least 5.1 innings in each of his last eight starts and is 4-3 with a no-decision over that span.

The 19 runs scored and the 17-run margin of victory are both season-bests for the Howlers. Erie’s previous high’s of 15 runs and a 14-run win came against Altoona on May 2, also at Blair County Ballpark.

The 17-run loss for Altoona was the largest margin of defeat in the 11-year history of the club.

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