This is a 2025 photo of pitcher Hunter Barco of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025 in Bradenton, Fla. This image reflects the Pirates' active roster as of Feb. 18, 2025, when the photo was taken. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

BOWIE, Md. — Curve starter Hunter Barco struck out eight batters in three scoreless innings and the Curve cruised to a 4-1 win over Chesapeake on Sunday afternoon at Prince George’s Stadium.

Barco has now thrown 20ª consecutive scoreless innings to begin the season and stands five innings shy of matching Jared Lakind’s franchise record of 25 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings, a record set in 2016.

Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz went 1-for-2 with a walk in three plate appearances and played five innings in the field in his organizational debut.

Jase Bowen slammed his third homer of the season in the second inning off rehabbing Orioles righty Chayce McDermott to open the scoring. Altoona added three runs in the fifth against Alex Pham with an RBI single from Jack Brannigan and a sacrifice bunt that turned into two runs. Kervin Pichardo laid down a sacrifice bunt with two on and nobody out after Brannigan’s single, and catcher Silas Ardoin’s throw went wild into foul ground allowing Sammy Siani and Brannigan to circle the bases and score.

Curve pitchers Derek Diamond, Emmanuel Chapman, Fineas Del Bonta-Smith and Cam Sanders covered the final five innings, allowing just one run on three hits and three walks. Curve pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts.

Termarr Johnson added two hits for the Curve.

Saturday’s game

Four Curve relievers combined to throw seven scoreless innings after starter Alessandro Ercolani lasted four innings, but the Baysox outlasted the Curve, 4-3, in 12 innings on Saturday night.

Altoona pitchers combined to allow only five hits. Mitch Jebb paced the Curve offense with three hits, Brannigan and Bowen also added multi-hit games.