BOWIE, Md. — Shawn Ross belted a grand slam for his seventh home run of the season on Sunday afternoon as the Curve secured a series split with a 9-3 win over the Chesapeake Baysox at Prince Georges Stadium.

In other news, Pittsburgh Pirates insider Jason Mackey tweeted on Sunday that, per general manager Ben Cherington, the Pirates’ Jared Jones is expected to make his next rehab start Tuesday in Altoona.

Ross finished the day with five runs batted in, a new career-high that matches Altoona’s season mark set by Keiner Delgado. He came to the plate with the bases loaded and one away in the sixth inning against Zane Barnhart, who entered the game to face Ross and gave up the blast.

It was the second grand slam hit this season by Altoona. Ross’s seven home runs lead the team. He later added a sacrifice fly to add to the Curve lead.

Curve pitching locked in after a big second inning for the Baysox. Chesapeake scored three runs on three hits, all doubles, off Curve starter Peyton Stumbo in the second to take a 3-1 lead.

Altoona’s arms responded by retiring 20 consecutive batters from the second inning through the ninth inning, when Alessandro Ercolani walked Ethan Anderson with one out.

Jake Shirk earned the win, tossing two perfect innings in relief of Stumbo. Jaden Woods followed with three perfect frames, striking out three before Ercolani closed out the ninth inning with a scoreless inning.

It was the second straight game that the Curve bullpen combined to toss at least five scoreless innings.

Altoona jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to a Titus Dumitru RBI single in the top of the first inning, scoring Jack Brannigan. The Curve added three runs in the ninth when P.J. Hilson and Delgado knocked back-to-back RBI singles. Hilson scored on a passed ball later in the frame.

Delgado finished with two hits, while Will Taylor reached base four times.

Saturday’s game

After not recording a hit for the first five innings, Altoona capitalized on a five-run sixth inning and four total home runs to defeat the Baysox, 7-1, on Saturday.

The Curve were no-hit for 5• innings by Chesapeake starter Evan Yates, who allowed a one-out single to Lonnie White Jr. in the sixth inning before exiting the contest. Ben Vespi entered in relief for the Baysox and allowed five runs in the inning, matching a season-high for runs scored in an inning by the Curve.

Callan Moss launched his second home run of the season, a three-run shot to give the Curve a 3-1 lead. Two batters later, Omar Alfonzo homered to extend the lead to 5-1.

The Curve added two insurance runs in the ninth inning with two more solo blasts. Brannigan stuck his third home run of the season to lead off the inning before Taylor smacked his third of the campaign later in the frame.

Curve pitching combined to strikeout 14 batters. Connor Wietgrefe tossed four innings in the start, allowing one run on five hits with six strikeouts. Landon Tomkins, Cy Nielson and Emmanuel Chapman combined to toss five no-hit innings in relief.

Up next

Altoona returns home on Tuesday night to begin a seven-game series with the Harrisburg Senators, Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals.