Back-to-back two-run innings weren’t enough to help the Altoona Curve claw back as it lost 11-4 to the Chesapeake Baysox in front of 4,985 fans at PNG Field Tuesday.

The game marked the first time the Curve played this season against a team with a worse record, albeit it would end up being short lived.

That would be thanks in large part due to nine walks allowed by Altoona pitchers as well as three wild pitches and two hit batsmen.

“We put ourselves in a tough spot by walking nine and a couple balks and a couple hit-by-pitches,” Curve manager Andy Fox said. “It’s hard to win that way.”

It allowed the Baysox to plate three in the fourth and four in the sixth before scoring one a piece in the seventh and eighth.

The ninth inning was a microcosm of the game as a whole with a walk to Tavian Josenberger with one out. He scampered to second on a wild pitch by Emmanuel Chapman and scored on a double by Aron Estrada.

Estrada later scored on a single by Anderson De Los Santos to round out the scoring for Chesapeake.

“We’ve got to keep preaching about throwing strikes, and getting ahead of hitters, and I think that’s the biggest thing when we get ahead of hitters, and we have a better chance to put guys away,” Fox said. “If you’re always working behind, I don’t care what league you’re in, it’s going to be tough to put hitters away.”

The Curve didn’t go down without a fight as they scored two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh, Titus Dumitru brought home Duce Gourson with a triple before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Callan Moss.

The eighth inning saw the Altoona offense load the bases for the second time in the game. Gourson worked a walk to score Ivan Brethowr before Will Taylor brought home Javier Rivas with a sacrifice fly.

With the loss, the Curve slid back to last place in the Eastern League Southwest Division.

Standed

The Curve offense struggled mightily, cashing in with runners on base, stranding 12 throughout the game.

Altoona was unable to come through with the bases loaded in the second inning and it set the tone for the offense. Curve hitters racked up 10 hits, but only scored four runs.

Coming and going

The Pittsburgh Pirates made the following changes to the Curve roster. Getting called up to Triple-A Indianapolis are Derek Berg (C), Khristian Curtis (P), Keiner Delgado (inf.), Jaden Woods (P) and Derek Diamond (P).

Five players are now with the Curve: Jarod Bayless (P), Brandon Neeck (P), Carlos Caro (inf.), Shalin Polanco (OF) and Connor Oliver (P).

Lonnie White Jr. was put on the 7-day injured list, retroactive to June 7.

“You’re happy for the guys that got promoted,” Fox said. “That’s great, and that’s what we’re supposed to do, develop players, get them moving, get them, give them, go where they want to go, and I think it’s fun to get guys from Greensboro, they’re excited.”

White was hitting .295 with six home runs and 18 RBI prior to hitting the Injured List. White has struggled with injury issues throughout his Minor League career.

“He’s just been dealing with a little bit of a knee issue, so it’s just precautionary, putting him on the Injured List just to give him a couple days and let it calm down,” Fox said.

Up next

The Curve will send RHP Peyton Stumbo to the mound against the Baysox tonight. Stumbo gave up three runs on seven hits in his outing against New Hampshire last week.