RICHMOND, Va. — The Curve set a franchise record for longest losing streak to begin a season with their ninth straight defeat on Sunday, 2-1, to the Richmond Flying Squirrels at Carmax Park.

Altoona managed just two hits, both by infielder Javier Rivas.

The Curve were no-hit into the fifth inning by Richmond starter Darien Smith, who struck out nine in 4• innings. His first baserunner allowed was Shawn Ross, who drew a walk in the fifth before the Flying Squirrels turned to Cesar Perdomo in relief.

Perdomo walked another batter before allowing an RBI single to Rivas to give the Curve a 1-0 lead. Rivas later doubled for Altoona’s only other hit.

Curve starter Dominic Perachi spun four scoreless innings to start his outing, allowing just two hits, but returned to hit the first batter of the fifth inning before being lifted from the game.

Dominic Pipkin entered for the Curve and recorded two quick outs before a single and a two-run double from Scott Bandura gave Richmond the 2-1 lead. Pipkin took the loss, tossing two innings in relief with three strikeouts.

Landon Tomkins tossed two scoreless innings in relief for Altoona. The Curve offense struck out 15 times and were swept in the six-game series by the Flying Squirrels.

Duce Gourson saw an eight-game on-base streak end, while Titus Dumitru saw a seven-game on-base streak also come to an end.

Saturday’s game

Omar Alfonzo and Derek Berg each had critical run-scoring hits, but the Curve couldn’t pull out their first win of the season Saturday, falling 9-8 in 10 innings to the Flying Squirrels.

Richmond built a 5-1 lead through five innings before the Curve took advantage of wildness from Flying Squirrels starter Trystan Vrieling. After Ross brought a run home with a bases loaded walk, Alfonzo drove in three with a double off the wall in left field to tie the game at 5-5.

The Flying Squirrels re-took the lead in the seventh inning on a double from Charlie Szykowny before Altoona rallied to draw even again in the eighth inning. The Curve took advantage of a Squirrels error and worked a pair of walks to force in a run and tie the game again.

In the 10th inning, Derek Berg drove in two for Altoona with a single back through the middle of the infield to take an 8-6 lead, but the Curve left a pair on base as the inning finished with a pair of strikeouts.

Richmond rallied for the victory with an RBI double with one out by Sabin Ceballos and then tied the game on a double from Jonah Cox. After an intentional walk to load the bases, Dayson Croes reached base safely on a fielder’s choice to bring home the winning run.

Altoona worked 12 walks in the game.

Curve starter Po-Yu Chen was touched for five runs on five hits in 3• innings, walking one and striking out one. Cy Nielson was charged with the loss, allowing two earned runs in 1ª innings of relief. Brandon Neeck and Emmanuel Chapman each turned in scoreless relief outings for the Curve.

Up next

Altoona returns to Peoples Natural Gas Field on Tuesday night at 6 to begin a six-game series with the Portland Sea Dogs.

RHP Khristian Curtis is slated to take the ball in the series opener.