PORTLAND (AP) – Paul Maholm (5-2) pitched eight innings of shutout ball, leading the Altoona Curve to a 7-0 victory Thursday over the Portland Sea Dogs.

Javier Guzman collected two hits and three RBIs for Altoona (43-35), while Portland’s Chris Durbin had two singles.

The Curve jumped ahead, 1-0, in the first, when Rajai Davis walked, advanced to second on a Guzman groundout and scored as Jose Bautista singled. In the second, Sea Dogs’ (40-35) starter Jon Lester (5-2), walked the bases full and Guzman’s single brought home two for a 3-0 lead.

Altoona added another in the eighth, on Bautista’s homer, the only run off Portland reliever Charlie Zink in five and one-third innings.

The Curve scored the final three in the ninth on doubles from Jorge Cortes and Craig Stansberry, two singles, a Portland error and a wild pitch.

AP-ES-06-30-05 2234EDT