From Mirror reports
BOWIE, Md. - The Curve had their own major leaguer make a rehab start for them earlier in the week when Jeff Karstens pitched in Altoona, but the tables were turned on Saturday.
Zach Britton, who won 11 games and posted a 4.61 ERA for Baltimore last season, started for Bowie and kept Altoona's offense in check as the Baysox notched a 9-6 win at Prince George's Stadium.
Britton is recovering from a shoulder injury, and though he gave up two unearned runs, he pitched well in his first appearance of the year. Five of the first six outs the Curve made were strikeouts, and Britton ended up striking out six, while allowing three hits on 88 pitches in five innings to earn his first Double-A win since 2010.
Along with Britton, outfielder Endy Chavez, third baseman Mark Reynolds and second baseman Brian Roberts are currently on major league rehab assignments in Bowie. Roberts got the day off Saturday, but both Chavez and Reynolds were in the lineup.
Chavez went 1-for-5 with two runs. Reynolds was 1-for-4 with a walk, two strikeouts and also made a fielding error.
Fact Box
Next stop
Today: Altoona at Bowie, 2:05 p.m.
Pitchers: Curve RHP Matt McSwain (2-1, 5.14) vs. Bowie RHP Bobby Bundy (2-7, 5.26)
Record: 22-25
Reynolds' error allowed the Curve to take an early 2-0 lead, but it would not last long. Nathan Baker made the start for Altoona and struggled in the second inning. Baker (3-5) gave up only two singles in the frame, but he issued four walks, balked in a run and hit a batter in what turned out to be a four-run second for the Baysox.
Baker went three innings in the loss and allowed those four earned runs on three hits and five walks. Kyle Cofield relieved Baker, and he was roughed up a bit in his first appearance since May 5.
Cofield, who was activated from the disabled list Friday, gave up three earned runs in 1 2/3 innings. The nine runs the Curve allowed were the most since falling 11-6 to Erie on May 12.
Quincy Latimore pulled the Curve within two when he hit a three-run homer in the sixth, but they never got closer. It was Latimore's third home run in the last week. He leads Altoona with four homers.
Brock Holt had an RBI double with two outs in the ninth to make it 9-6, but Bowie's Greg Burke came in and threw just two pitches to pick up his eighth save.
Game recap
Key player: Bowie's Buck Britton was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer.
Key play: LHP Nathan Baker balked with the bases loaded to bring home Bowie's fourth run of the 2nd inning.
Key stat: Baker walked four batters and hit another in the second inning.
How they scored
Top 2nd: Durham walked, scored on Gonzalez single (1-0); Latimore reached on Reynolds error, scored on wild pitch (2-0).
Bottom 2nd: Machado hit by pitch, score on Barfield single (2-1); B. Britton singled, scored on Schoop bases-loaded walk (2-2); wild pitch scored Barfield (2-3), Baker balk scored Schoop (2-4).
Bottom 5th: Hoes walked, scored on Widlansky double (2-5); B. Britton two-run homer scored Widlansky (2-7).
Top 6th: Curry singled, Durham walked, both scored on Latimore three-run homer (5-7).
Bottom 6th: Hoes walked, scored on Widlansky single (5-8).
Bottom 8th: Chavez singled, scored on Durham throwing error (5-9).
Top 9th: Grossman singled, scored on Holt double (6-9).
