The Altoona Curve’s seven-game win streak came to an end with a 2-1 loss to the Bowie Baysox Friday night in front of 4,610 fans at PNG Field.

It was an uncharacteristically bad night defensively for the Curve, who had three errors against the Baysox, two of which led to both runs being unearned.

“We didn’t make plays when we needed to,” Altoona manager Robby Hammock said. “We’ve been able to cover it up a little bit offensively, but tonight they pitched a really good game and kept us at bay and made the errors hurt.”

A fielding error by Joe Perez in the first inning led to Bowie center fielder Dylan Beavers getting on to start the game. Left fielder Matthew Etzel singled in the next at bat.

Beavers and Etzel attempted a successful double steal as Curve catcher Abrahan Gutierrez’s throw went into center field and Beavers scored easily.

Etzel reached in the fifth inning on a fielder’s choice by Perez, but Perez’s throw went wide to second base and all runners were safe to load the bases.

Ryan Higgins scored for Bowie on a fielder’s choice hit by first baseman TT Bowens.

The defensive display spoiled an otherwise great night for the Curve pitching staff.

“It was nice and we pushed them a little bit, probably an extra inning more than they normally would go,” Hammock said.

Jaden Woods and Grant Ford each tossed three innings and allowed an unearned run apiece while Pirates reliever Ryan Borucki and J.C. Flowers combined to throw three shutout innings to finish out the game.

It won’t be the lone bullpen game of the series as both games this weekend are expected to be full of guys from the pen as Saturday’s projected starter Drake Fellows has been sent to Triple-A Indianapolis and Sunday starter Bubba Chandler is in Texas for the All-Star Futures Game.

“It’s an opportunity because the bullpen has been very unused lately, so to speak, because our starters have been going so long,” Hammock said. “It gives a lot more opportunities for the bullpen to do some things, and that’s needed for them.”

Back for more

Pirates reliever Ryan Borucki was back in Altoona Friday night as part of his rehab stint as he recovers from left triceps inflammation.

Borucki threw a scoreless seventh inning where he allowed two bloop hits and a strikeout.

Futures game

Chandler began his journey to the MLB All-Star Futures Game Friday ahead of the game Saturday afternoon in Arlington, Texas.

For Chandler, it’s an opportunity to showcase his arsenal against some of the game’s brightest future stars and show why the Pirates and many in baseball think highly of him.

“I’m pumped up,” Chandler said. “I’m honored that the Pirates nominated me, but I’m gonna go out there and compete and pitch two innings or whatever it is, or go out there and throw what I got to throw and, you know, go into the break ready to come back and finish the year off.”

Chandler will be joined on the roster by fellow Pirates farmhand and current Greensboro Grasshopper Termarr Johnson.

Next up

The Curve will send RHP Scott Randall to the mound Saturday night to face Bowie.

Randall has a 1-1 record with a 9.49 ERA in five games with Greensboro this season. Saturday’s start marks his first in Double-A.