Keller helps Curve sweep to EL title
After watching Double-A Altoona claim a walk-off victory on the final day of the regular season, manager Michael Ryan could sense his team was finding its groove at the right time. But even he couldn't envision the Curve finishing a perfect 6-0 in the playoffs en route to their second
After watching Double-A Altoona claim a walk-off victory on the final day of the regular season, manager Michael Ryan could sense his team was finding its groove at the right time. But even he couldn't envision the Curve finishing a perfect 6-0 in the playoffs en route to their second Eastern League title in franchise history.
Mitch Keller allowed two runs on four hits and a walk with eight strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings while Jin-De Jhang ripped a three-run triple in the fifth to lead Altoona to a 4-2 victory over Trenton on Thursday at Peoples Natural Gas Field to clinch a three-game sweep in the best-of-5 Eastern League Finals.
"Anytime that you're celebrating at the end of the postseason, it's so rewarding to play two good teams and go undefeated throughout the postseason," Ryan said. "To go three against Bowie and three against Trenton, who have been the best two teams in the league all year, in my opinion, it's so rewarding and we earned every second of it."
The Curve clinched the Western Division title on Labor Day against Harrisburg, courtesy of a walk-off homer from Mitchell Tolman.
"We had a really good series to be able to clinch the division, where all three phases were really working," Ryan said. "That really carried over to Bowie. We had three great starts on the mound, played superb defense and had timely hitting -- the offense was clicking. That's why we are in the position we are now and we're celebrating."
Gameday box score
After grabbing hold of a 2-0 series lead, Keller got the ball to start Game 3 with a chance to clinch, but the No. 2 Pirates prospect yielded two runs in the second when Zack Zehner plated a run on a groundout and Rashad Crawford followed with an RBI double. But Keller stayed composed and shut the door for the rest of the night.
"It's a testament to Mitch and his presence," Ryan said of his starter, who sported a 2-2 record and a 3.16 ERA in six regular-season Eastern League starts. "It's a 21-year-old kid that looks like a seasoned veteran out there. He looks like he's 25 or 26 out there. The way he handles himself on the mound, he's just in complete control. Nothing fazes the guy and you're very confident when you have a guy on the mound with that kind of stuff."
Altoona finally broke through with two outs in the fifth when Jerrick Suiter drew a bases-loaded walk. With the bags still filled, Jhang ripped a 2-1 pitch from Will Carter down the right-field line for a three-run triple.
"It just felt like one of those big hits that gave us the confidence back," Ryan said. "It gave us the lead and we knew we needed to throw zeros the rest of the way. We knew we had the opportunity. I'm not saying it was a gut-punching hit, but it gave us some breathing room. We had no runs going into the fifth and to be able to put up four raised our confidence and helped us focus up a little bit."
Keller pitched into the eighth, recording one out in the frame before ceding to Johnny Hellweg, who worked out of a bases-full jam to end the scoreless stanza. Tate Scioneaux entered in the ninth, setting down the first two Trenton batters via strikeout. After Zehner fell into an 0-2 hole, Scioneaux put the finishing touches on the title with another punchout to send the Curve and the crowd of 3,656 into a frenzy.
Complete playoff coverage
Ryan was still trying to let the moment sink in.
"We were celebrating that we finally did it," he said. "You hug your staff and you thank them for everything that they've done and all the hard work that they've put in. That's the reward like that, to be able to celebrate like we are right now and to be able to enjoy it with one another."
Andrew Battifarano is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter, @AndrewAtBatt.
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring