BOWIE, Md. — The Altoona Curve secured a 6-4 victory against the Bowie Baysox in a closely contested Double-A Eastern League game at Prince George’s Stadium on June 29, 2025. The game, which drew 1,657 fans, saw the Curve overcome an early deficit with timely hitting and solid pitching to improve their record to 35-39, while the Baysox fell to 32-41.
The Baysox struck first in the opening inning. Silas Ardoin tripled to right field, driving in Creed Willems, who had walked earlier. Max Wagner followed with a single to left, scoring Ardoin and giving Bowie a 2-0 lead. The Curve responded in the third inning, capitalizing on three walks and two doubles. Mike Jarvis doubled to drive in Brenden Dixon and Wyatt Hendrie, while Sammy Siani’s double brought home Termarr Johnson and Jarvis, tying the score at 4-4.
Bowie leveled the game in the bottom of the third when Tyler O’Neill hit a two-run home run off Curve starter Wilber Dotel, scoring Reed Trimble. The score remained tied until the sixth inning, when the Curve took the lead. Kervin Pichardo singled and advanced to third on a Jase Bowen single, aided by a fielding error by Baysox center fielder Douglas Hodo III. Duce Gourson’s sacrifice fly scored Pichardo, putting Altoona ahead 5-4.
The Curve added an insurance run in the seventh. Hendrie singled, and Jarvis doubled to drive him in, extending the lead to 6-4. The Curve’s bullpen, led by Brandan Bidois, Beau Burrows, and Wilkin Ramos, shut down the Baysox over the final four innings. Bidois earned the win, pitching two scoreless innings, while Ramos secured his fourth save with a perfect ninth. Ryan Long took the loss for Bowie, allowing two runs (one earned) over five innings.
Jarvis led the Curve offensively, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Siani contributed two RBIs, and Hendrie scored twice. For the Baysox, Ardoin went 2-for-4 with a triple, a double, and an RBI, while O’Neill’s home run accounted for two RBIs. The game featured two double plays by the Baysox and two caught stealing by the Curve’s defense, with catcher Hendrie throwing out Hodo and Wagner.
The pitching matchup saw Dotel struggle early, allowing four runs in 2.2 innings, while Bowie’s Trace Bright also surrendered four runs in 2.2 innings. Relief efforts were critical, with Curve relievers Bidois, Burrows, and Ramos combining for 5.0 scoreless innings, striking out five. Bowie’s Daniel Lloyd provided 1.1 scoreless innings, but Long’s fifth-inning struggles proved costly.
The game, played under partly cloudy skies with a temperature of 90 degrees, lasted 2 hours and 41 minutes. Umpires Stone Garver, Elliott Melton, and Jaylen Goodman officiated. The Curve’s victory moved them to fourth place in the Eastern League’s Southwest Division, while the Baysox remained in fifth.
This matchup highlighted the competitive nature of Double-A baseball, with both teams showcasing young talent. The Curve’s ability to rally from an early deficit and rely on their bullpen underscored their resilience. Early offensive production was not enough for the Baysox to counter defensive miscues and late-inning pitching challenges. The game’s outcome hinged on key moments, such as Gourson’s sacrifice fly and Jarvis’s clutch hitting, which shifted momentum in Altoona’s favor.
The Eastern League, part of Minor League Baseball’s Double-A level, is a critical development stage for prospects aiming for Major League rosters. Teams like the Curve, affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Baysox, affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles, use these games to evaluate players’ skills under pressure. The detailed box score, including pitch counts and defensive plays, provides scouts and coaches with valuable data for player assessments.
