This was the first of nine straight on the road for the Sea Dogs, who are 4-3 during an 18-game stretch against the Western Division.
Johnson notched his fifth quality start of the season, yielding just four hits on one run, one walk and six strikeouts. The lefty worked around two lead-off doubles, and held the Curve 0-for-8 with runners-in-scoring position. The win for Johnson was his seventh between Portland and High-A Salem.
The Sea Dogs started the trip in style, scoring three times off losing pitcher Joely Rodriguez (3-5) in the first inning. Derrik Gibson (3-for-3, 2 runs scored) led off the game with an infield single, Deven Marrero followed with a single to center. Blake Swihart knocked home the first run with a double, Sean Coyle added a run-scoring groundout and Stefan Welch delivered a run-scoring single to right.
Portland made it 4-0 in the third. Gibson led off with single, stole second base and scored on a single by Marrero.
David Chester shined in his Double-A debut, going 3- for-4 (double) with a runscoring single in the fifth inning to put Portland in front 5-0.
Rodriguez gave up all five runs on 10 hits, taking his fifth loss in his 12th start of the season for the Curve.
Altoona got on the board in Johnson’s final inning. Drew Maggi and Alen Hanson started the sixth with singles. Keon Broxton hit into a 6-4-3 double play for Altoona’s lone run of the night.
Portland’s bullpen closed out the win with three scoreless innings. Mike McCarthy worked two innings on one hit and a strikeout. Aaron Kurcz tossed the ninth and has not allowed an earned run in 10 appearances.
The Sea Dogs and Curve continue their three-game series with game two tonight at 7 p.m. from People’s Natural Gas Field. Portland is slated to send Keith Couch (7-1, 2.62) to the hill against Joely Rodriguez (4-3, 2.07).
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