A five-run outburst and strong relief pitching helped the Altoona Curve complete a four-game sweep of Portland on Sunday with a 6-1 victory at Blair County Ballpark.

Nate McLouth broke a 1-1 tie with an RBI single in the seventh inning off reliever Jason Howell (0-1). Jeff Keppinger lengthened the lead with a two-run single and Gary Thomas completed the rally with a drive that was played into a two-run triple by Portland center fielder Eric Johnson.

Altoona (4-0) equalled its best start in franchise history with the win. The Curve went 4-0 to begin the 2000 season. Portland (0-4) will head to New Britain still searching for its first victory of the campaign.

Brandon Agamennone (1-0) got credit for the victory with 2 1/3 scoreless innings. The veteran right-hander, making his first appearance for the Curve, allowed one hit and struck out three.

Agamennone kept the game tied in the sixth when he was summoned to replace Bryan Bullington with runners at the corners and one out. The Maryland native proceeded to strike out Mike O'Keefe and Jeff Bailey to get out of the jam.

Bullington, the first overall pick in the 2002 draft, looked sharp in his Double-A debut. The right-hander went 5 1/3 innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits. He walked two and struck out none in his 58-pitch effort.

Thomas led the Curve's 14-hit attack going 3-for-4 with two doubles and the two-run triple. Chris Duffy continued his hot-hitting with three hits and two runs scored. Duffy is batting .563 (9-for-16) over the first four games.

McLouth and Keppinger each finished with two hits.

Altoona's opening homestand resumes Monday at 6:35 p.m. with the first of three against Norwich. Landon Jacobsen (9-11, 2.93 in 2003) of the Curve will face the Navigators' Jeffrey Clark (4-6, 3.67) in a pairing of right-handers.