Mike Augliera’s forte as a starting pitcher is eating innings and keeping his Portland Sea Dogs in the game.

But the offense behind Augliera is not backing him up. It happened again Wednesday night as the Altoona Curve topped Portland 2-1 at Hadlock Field.

Blake Tekotte of the Portland Sea Dogs is gunned down while trying to steal second base Wednesday night as Max Moroft of Altoona takes the throw at Hadlock Field. Altoona won, 2-1. Carl D. Walsh/Staff Photographer

UP NEXT

WHO: Altoona Curve (Zack Dodson 2-1) at Portland Sea Dogs (Joe Gunkel 0-0)

WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday

The Sea Dogs (16-23) saw their winning streak end at four while Altoona improved to 23-14.

Augliera gave up two runs on eight hits over 61/3 innings. It’s the fifth time in eight starts he’s allowed three earned runs or less. But his record is 1-7.

And in his eight starts, the Sea Dogs have only 10 runs – four in Augliera’s one victory.

Altoona starter Jason Creasy (4-0) pitched seven strong innings, allowing six hits. One of them was Oscar Tejeda’s RBI single in the sixth, closing the score to 2-1.

Augliera gave up a two-out RBI double to Edward Salcedo in the first inning. He retired 12 of 13 batters until two outs in the fifth, when he allowed a single, walk and Josh Bell’s RBI single to center for a 2-0 Altoona lead.

Portland put runners on second base in the first two innings and got its next chance in the fifth when two Sea Dogs reached base. But both Marco Hernandez and Blake Tekotte were caught trying to steal second base by Altoona catcher Sebastian Valle.

In the sixth, Mike Miller doubled and scored on Tejeda’s one-out single to right-center. The ball got away from the center fielder and Tejeda hustled to second. Keury De La Cruz singled and Tejeda stopped at third.

Tejeda tried to score on Tim Roberson’s grounder to third baseman Eric Wood but was thrown out.

Portland’s only threat after that was when Roberson led off the ninth with a fly to the warning track in right field.

Altoona closer Yhonathan Barrios pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save.

NOTES: The announced paid attendance was 5,944. … Reliever Robby Scott allowed one hit over 22/3 innings … The Sea Dogs added right-handed reliever Jorge Marban from advanced Class A Salem. Marban, 26, signed a minor league free-agent contract with Boston in the offseason. To make room for him on the roster, starter Luis Diaz was placed on the temporary inactive list. … Before the game, Portland catcher/designated hitter Tim Roberson was rewarded for hitting for the cycle last Friday. With a donation from L.L. Bean, the Sea Dogs presented Roberson with a new bicycle (cycle for a cycle, get it?). … Joe Gunkel will make his first start for the Sea Dogs on Thursday night. Gunkel was promoted from Salem last week and made one relief appearance.

Related Stories