BOWIE, M.D. — The Bowie Baysox clinched a dramatic 6-2 victory over the Altoona Curve at Prince George’s Stadium on Saturday, thanks to a walk-off grand slam from Jud Fabian. This stunning moment marked Bowie’s second consecutive series victory at home and improved their season record to 8-6.
The game was a tight contest throughout, with the Baysox initially taking the lead twice, both times through the efforts of Frederick Bencosme. Bencosme, ranked as the Orioles’ No. 27 prospect, hit his third home run of the season in the second inning, a solo shot that opened the scoring. He later added another RBI in the sixth inning, bringing home Dylan Beavers to break a 1-1 tie after Altoona had leveled the score earlier.
Bowie’s starting pitcher, right-hander Trace Bright, delivered a solid performance over five innings, allowing just one run off nine hits. His outing was bolstered by the defense, which turned four double plays to stifle Altoona’s offense.
However, the Curve managed to tie the game once more in the eighth inning, capitalizing on a combination of hits and a Baysox error. The score remained 2-2 until the bottom of the ninth when Fabian stepped up to deliver his decisive blow. With two outs and the bases loaded, Fabian connected with a breaking ball from Altoona’s right-hander Cameron Junker, sending it over the left-field wall for his first grand slam at the Double-A level and securing the victory for the Baysox.
Dan Hammer, another right-hander for the Baysox, earned the win after pitching a scoreless ninth inning, his record now standing at 1-0. The loss was handed to Junker, who fell to 0-1 for the season.
Fabian’s grand slam was a significant milestone, being his first since May 30, 2023, while playing with High-A Aberdeen, and highlighted his potential as a critical player for the Orioles in the future.
The Baysox look to continue their winning momentum in the series finale against the Curve, scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Kyle Brnovich is set to start for Bowie against Altoona’s Anthony Solometo in what promises to be an engaging matchup.