Game 2: The Curve take full advantage of the Senators’ miscues and win 6-4 to even the best-of-5 series at 1 game apiece

• After ripping him in this space yesterday, I wouldn’t say that starting pitcher Aaron Thompson was awful last night just not as sharp as Senators fans would have hoped after his last two impressive outings . He allowed a hit in each of his four innings and walked 3 on the night. Two of those began the 4th inning and came back to haunt Thompson when both scored to put the Sens in a 3-1 hole. That was it for Thompson…especially after Harrisburg responded with 2 of its own in the top of the 5th to even the score. Adrian Alaniz relieved Thompson and almost anything that could go wrong did in the bottom of the 5th inning. An error by first baseman Chris Marrero on a pickoff attempt that allowed Chase d’Arnaud to advance to second base. A hit batsman. A wild pitch on an intentional ball that sailed high out of catcher Devin Ivany’s reach. Two 2-out doubles. It all added up to the tune of 3 runs and a 6-3 advantage that Harrisburg would never regain.

• The Senators’ bats stayed hot as they outhit the Curve 10-7 and Michael Burgess and Edgardo Baez were the only starters to go without a hit. They just couldn’t put a couple of base hits together or find that one knock that would open the floodgates. Poor judgment on the basepaths and a failure to execute ultimately cost the Senators of any scoring opportunities they had. As Patriot-News reporter Geoff Morrow pointed out in his game report, the Senators failed to advance a runner with less than two outs five times over the first five innings and the team finished 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Not too many ballgames are going to be won with numbers like that.

• Harrisburg’s probable Game 5 starting pitcher has been unannounced and up in the air. I believe Brad Peacock’s two innings of hitless relief answered that question last night. If the Senators need a Game 5 on Sunday back in Altoona, they’ll turn to ace Tom Milone on short rest. I would have loved to have seen Peacock get a start in this series, but only at Thompson’s expense and that was impossible to pull off when they battled for the playoffs up until the final day. Depending on how much more they use Peacock in this series and if they advance (a big if, I know), I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in the rotation for the Championship series.

Game 3: Tonight 7:00 PM Metro Bank Park – Justin Wilson (11-8, 3.09 ERA) @ Ryan Tatusko (3-1, 1.72 ERA)