ALTOONA, Pa. — The Portland Sea Dogs scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning Wednesday, then held off a furious rally in the bottom of the inning to beat the Altoona Curve, 9-8.

Carlos Asuaje hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth to break a 6-6 tie and one out later Keury De La Cruz homered to right to provide the Sea Dogs with a three-run cushion.

They needed it all.

Sea Dogs reliever Simon Mercedes had a rough ninth inning. He gave up a single and two walks to load the bases.

The Curve pulled within one on a two-run single by Max Moroff, leaving runners at first and second and ending Mercedes’ night.

Kyle Martin came in and threw a wild pitch, putting the tying run on third and the winning run on second.

Jose Osuna grounded out to third for the first out, with the runners holding.

Then Martin struck out Erich Weiss and Barrett Barnes to end the game.

The Sea Dogs have won two straight and 3 of 4.

Portland broke open a 1-1 game with a three-run third inning, all the runs scoring on a bases-loaded double by Henry Ramos, who was injured on the play and left the game.

The Curve grabbed the lead in the bottom of the inning with four runs – an RBI double by Moroff, an RBI single by Weiss and a two-run single by Barnes.

Portland regained the lead with two runs in the fifth inning on a two-run ground-rule double down the right-field line by De La Cruz.

Altoona tied the game at 6 in the seventh as Moroff tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Osuna.

Mercedes was credited with the win, pitching one inning. He allowed two runs and two hits. He walked two and struck out one.

The Sea Dogs end their three-game series with the Curve at 7 p.m. Thursday.

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