The Altoona Curve, the Pirates Class AA affiliate, won the Eastern League title with a 4-2 victory against the Trenton Thunder in Game 3 of the championship series Thursday in Altoona, Pa.
Highly touted pitching prospect Mitch Keller led the Curve, yielding just four hits and two runs in 7u2153 innings while striking out eight batters and walking just one. Catcher Jin-De Jhang delivered the winning hit, driving in three runs with a triple in the fifth inning.
It is the second Eastern League championship for Altoona, which has been a Pirates affiliate since the team’s inception in 1999.