Oneonta High graduate Mike Connolly won his first game of the season Saturday for the Altoona Curve.

Left-hander Connolly (1-2) allowed one earned run on three hits over five inning for the Double-A Curve, who defeated the Akron Aeros, 4-3, in the second game of a baseball doubleheader. He struck two and walked one.

Connolly, 23, has had two good starts and two tough ones this season. He allowed one run and struck out seven over five innings in helping the Curve to a season-opening, 4-3 victory over the Trenton Thunder. It was the second consecutive year Connolly has been the opening-day starter for the Curve.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]His next two starts were rocky, though.

Connolly allowed six runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings in Altoona’s 6-2 loss to the Erie Seawolves on April 11. Former Oneonta Tigers infielder Kody Kirkland hit a two-run homer off Connolly in the second inning.

The Daily Star’s Player of the Year in 1999 and 2000, Connolly lasted three innings in the Curve’s 9-0 loss to Trenton on April 17. He allowed four runs on five hits and walked three.

For the season, Connolly (1-2) has 5.71 earned run average. He’s allowed 13 runs — 11 earned — on 18 hits in 17 1/3 innings. Connolly has struck out a team-high 15 and walked eight.

Connolly is in his seventh season in the Pirates’ chain after Pittsburgh selected him in the 19th round of the 2000 draft. He finished last season at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he went 2-4 with a 4.42 ERA in 13 starts. Connolly has a career record of 45-39.

He has spent parts of the last four seasons at Altoona, which leads the Southern Division of the Eastern League with a 13-4 record.

Connolly is third all-time in Curve history in victories (21), losses (23) and walks (111). He’s also second in games started (63) and strikeouts (268).

John Grabow, who played for Altoona from 2000-03, is the Curve’s all-time leader in wins (24), losses (26), games started (70) and strikeouts (321).

The Pirates play the Cincinnati Reds in the 60th annual Hall of Fame Game on May 15 at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown. It’s possible Connolly could pitch as major league teams usually bring up minor leaguers for the exhibition game.