A stellar pitching performance led the Altoona Curve to a 2-0 triumph over the Chesapeake Baysox on Tuesday evening at Prince Georges Stadium. Hunter Barco stood out as he extended his season-opening scoreless streak to an impressive 17 innings. Barco, alongside teammates Valentin Linarez, Wilken Ramos, and Cam Sanders, ensured that the Baysox bats remained silent throughout the contest.
Barco's dominance was evident as he fanned eight batters and conceded only two hits across four innings. Although he walked two hitters, his effectiveness was undeterred, retiring both batters he faced in the fifth inning before departing from the game. This remarkable stretch ranks as the longest scoreless start since Roansy Contreras's 18-inning streak back in 2021. Barco remains one of just four qualified Double-A pitchers maintaining a perfect ERA this season, showcasing an impeccable control with 22 strikeouts against merely four walks and eight hits allowed.
The team's success was not solely reliant on Barco, as Linarez contributed significantly by securing his third victory of the season with a hitless inning featuring two strikeouts. Ramos followed suit with two additional shutout frames, paving the way for Sanders to clinch his fifth save in six opportunities this season. Sanders now leads all Minor League hurlers in saves. Offensively, Termarr Johnson provided a much-needed spark with a solo home run off Chesapeake starter Alex Pham in the third inning, while Sammy Siani delivered an RBI groundout in the eighth to extend the lead.
Despite the loss, Pham displayed commendable resilience, surrendering just one run and three hits over 5-plus innings while striking out 11 batters without issuing any walks. The Curve's victory marks their third consecutive win, the longest winning streak of the season thus far. Additionally, the team continues to excel in base-stealing, adding two more thefts to bring their season total to 28 successful attempts out of 32 tries. Mitch Jebb was instrumental in this aspect, going 2-for-3 with a walk and swiping his sixth base of the campaign.
This thrilling display of teamwork and skill highlights the importance of consistency and collaboration in achieving success. Each player contributes uniquely to the overall goal, demonstrating that even in challenging situations, perseverance and determination can lead to triumph. As the Curve prepare for their next matchup against the Baysox, fans eagerly anticipate another showcase of talent and resilience.