EASTERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONS DIVISION CHAMPIONS PLAYOFF APPEARANCES PLAYERS TO MLB 2010, 2017 2004, 2010, 2017, 2018 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 160 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 April 9, 2019 -- Game #6, Road Game #6 Altoona Curve (5-0) vs. Erie SeaWolves (2-2) RHP James Marvel (1-0, 0.00) vs. LHP Nick Ramirez (2018: 8-0, 1.76) 6:05 p.m. | UPMC Park | Erie, Pa. Radio -- WRTA 98.5 FM & Curve Radio Network | TV -- MiLB.TV UPCOMING GAMES & PITCHING PROBABLES Wed., April 10 at Erie 12:05 p.m. RHP Dario Agrazal (1-0, 7.50) vs. RHP Matt Manning (1-0, 1.80) Thurs., April 11 Akron 6 p.m. TBD vs. TBD Fri., April 12 Akron 6 p.m. TBD vs. TBD Sat., April 13 Akron 4 p.m. TBD vs. TBD YESTERDAY: The Curve winning streak reached five straight after a 6-3 win over Erie in the opener of a three-game 2019 E.L. WESTERN STANDINGS set. The SeaWolves used a pair of doubles in the second to jump out to a 1-0 before Altoona starter Pedro Vasquez Team W-L PCT GB Today held the home squad to that lone run over five innings. Bligh Madris started a four-run fourth with a lead-off, solo Altoona 5-0 1.000 -- @ ERI homer as the Curve took a 4-1 edge. Logan Hill went 4-for-5 with with a solo homer in the eighth and extended the Harrisburg 4-1 .750 1.0 vs. HFD advantage to 6-1 with his second double and RBI in the ninth. After three hitless innings on the hill from Yeudy Gar- cia, Erie tightened the score on a two-run triple by Jake Rogers before Tate Scioneaux closed out the ninth. Richmond 3-1 .750 1.5 vs. BOW Erie 2-2 .500 2.5 vs. ALT TONIGHT: The 21st season of Altoona Curve Baseball continues with the second of a three-game series at UPMC Bowie 1-3 .250 3.0 @ RIC Park in Erie, Pa. as the back-to-back Western Division champions face the Erie SeaWolves, the Double-A affiliate of Akron 0-5 .000 5.0 vs. TRN the Detroit Tigers. 2019 E.L. EASTERN STANDINGS THE CURVE: For the second time in franchise history, Altoona is 5-0 to start the new season. Only the 2006 Curve Team W-L PCT GB Today has started 5-0 before this group and a sixth straight win would be a new club record for consecutive wins to begin Reading 4-1 .800 -- @ NHM a season. Entering 2019, the Curve own the longest active streak for reaching the Eastern League postseason as Binghamton 2-2 .500 1.5 @ POR the only club to make the playoffs in each of the last four seasons. Four consecutive playoff appearances is also tied Trenton 2-2 .500 1.5 @ AKR for the longest streak in franchise history (2003-06). Over the last four years, the Curve have the best record in the New Hamp. 2-3 .400 2.0 vs. REA Western Division (302-258) while only the only teams in the league with better records are Trenton (329-235) and Reading (305-254). Portland 1-3 .250 2.5 vs. BIN Hartford 1-4 .200 3.0 @ HBG THE SEAWOLVES: Erie continues a six-game homestand at UPMC Park after claiming two-of-three against the Tren- ton Thunder before meeting the Curve. The SeaWolves scored a league-high 29 runs through three games before 2019 CURVE AT A GLANCE they were limited to one run through the first eight innings on Monday. Erie also leads the league with a .292 team Overall Record ............................................ 5-0 average and with a +17 run differential. The Tigers Double-A squad finished fifth in the E.L. Western Division with a Home ................................................... 0-0 63-77 record. The Curve won the 2018 season series, 11-9, while going 6-4 at UPMC Park. Managed by former Ti- Road .................................................... 5-0 gers catcher Mike Rabello, the SeaWolves 2019 roster includes Top 30 Tigers prospects Matt Manning (No. 2), Isaac Place (E.L. Western) .................................. 1st Paredes (No. 4), Alex Faedo (No. 10), Jake Rogers (No. 13), Sergio Alcantara (No. 15), Logan Shore (No. 16), Anthony Castro (No. 24) and Jose Azocar (No. 30). Games Ahead/Behind ...............................+1.0 Streak ........................................................... W5 FOR ALTOONA: Right-hander James Marvel makes the his second start of the season on Tuesday. He turned in six Last 5............................................................ 5-0 shutout innings and held the Akron RubberDucks to one hit while striking out a career-high nine batters on Opening Last 10 ......................................................... 5-0 Day. Marvel will make his second career start against the SeaWolves after he made his Double-A debut against Erie on August 10, 2018 at PNG Field. He took his only loss at the Double-A level in that start despite a quality start (2 2019 vs. Erie .............................................. 1-0 ER/6.2 IP). Born in San Francisco, Marvel was drafted by the Pirates in the 36th round in 2015 out of Duke Univer- at Altoona ........................................... 0-0 sity. For more on Marvel, see page two. at Erie ................................................. 1-0 FOR ERIE: Left-hander Nick Ramirez takes the mound for his Tigers organization debut on Tuesday and his first start All-time vs. Erie .................................212-194 of 2019. Ramirez began his professional career as a first baseman with the Milwaukee Brewers organization before at Altoona .......................................98-96 he converted to pitching full-time. He was a two-way player at Cal State-Fullerton and hit .311 with a 2.64 ERA in at Erie ...........................................114-98 his college career before the Brewers picked him in the fourth round during the 2011 draft. Ramirez is a four-time Southern League All-Star with Huntsville and Biloxi, twice at first base (2014-15) and two times as a pitcher (2017- ‘18 Home Attendance ........................ 297,118 18), and signed with the Tigers in December 2018 as a minor league free agent. Home Openings ............................................65 Average Attendance ............................... 4,571 MOUND MATTERS: Altoona's pitching staff has issued just eight walks through the first five games of the season, which is tied with Single-A Kannapolis for the fewest walks in Minor League Baseball. Meanwhile, Curve starters have issued one free pass during the first trip through the rotation which is the fewest among all starting staffs in the minors. Altoona's bullpen has surrendered three runs through five games for the second-fewest runs allowed in the Eastern League and third-best across Double-A. KING OF THE HILL: After starting 1-for-8 at the plate through the first three games,Logan Hill has gone 7-for-9 with one homer, three doubles and three RBIs over the past two games. Hill's offensive outburst has propelled him to the Eastern League lead with a .471 batting average, eight total hits and three doubles while his four extra-base hits, four walks and .571 on-base percentage are all second in the E.L. BLIGH GUY: With his first Double-A homer and team-best third multi-hit game on Monday, Bligh Madris has soared BROADCAST INFORMATION into the Eastern League leaderboards in several categories. His eight total hits and three doubles are all tied for tops on the circuit while his six runs scored and four extra-base hits are second-best. PROSPECT WATCH: The Curve roster features three of Baseball America's Top 30 Pirates prospects: Jared Oliva (No. 19), Gage Hinsz (No. 28) and Dario Agrazal (No. 29). Two of those players are featured on MLB.com's Top 30 Pirates prospects list: Oliva (No. 12) and Agrazal (No. 29). Oliva was also ranked by B.A. as the "Best Defensive Outfielder" in Pittsburgh's system. Garett Mansfield and Michael Marcantonini will call the action of the 2018 season on DOING THE SPLITS: For the first time since the Curve joined the Eastern League in 1999, the Eastern League will the flagship of the Curve, Talk Radio 98.5 play a split-season format beginning in 2019. Playoff berths will be awarded to the division champs in each half and will set the stage for the first round of the postseason. The last time FM/1240 AM WRTA in Altoona. Pregame ON THE ROAD TRIP the Eastern League played a split season was in 1982, which was the end of coverage begins 15 min. before all games. Games .....................................................................5 a five-year run from 1978-82. The league also implemented a split-season The Curve can also be heard on the following af- format during the 1934-35, 1958 and 1975 seasons. Record ................................................................. 5-0 filiate stations for selected games: - WKMC 96.1 FM/1370 AM in Roaring Spring Average.......................................... .242 (40/165) RYAN'S REIGN: Indiana, Pa. native Michael Ryan returns for a third season as Curve manager in 2019. Over the last three years, the Curve have gone - WPHB 1260 AM in Centre County Runs/Runs Per Game ..............................23/4.6 155-126 under Ryan's direction and won back-to-back Western Division titles - Online streaming at AltoonaCurve.com pro- Home Runs ............................................................2 for the first time in club history. Ryan's .547 winning percentage entering the vided by TuneIn Radio 2019 season is second-best all-time among Curve managers behind Tony - Via the TuneIn Radio App and the MiLB First RISP .................................................. 333 (15/45) Beasley's .569 mark (161-122) during the 2004-05 seasons. His 152 wins Errors ......................................................................1 through two seasons rank fourth all-time in team history (3rd - Tony Beasley, Pitch App 161).