BOWIE, Md. — The Chesapeake Baysox, the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, fell 8-5 to the Altoona Curve, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Double-A affiliate, on Thursday night at Prince George’s Stadium, marking their third consecutive loss. Despite a strong offensive effort, the Baysox (9-9) couldn’t overcome early deficits and defensive miscues against the Curve (10-8).
Altoona struck quickly, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Baysox starter Trace Bright (L, 1-3). Sammy Siani’s RBI single and Mitch Jebb’s steal of home after a stolen base set the tone. Chesapeake responded in the second with a three-run homer by Frederick Bencosme off Curve starter J.C. Flowers, snapping a 0-for-26 slump with runners in scoring position and giving the Baysox a 3-2 lead. It was Bencosme’s second homer of the season.
The Curve regained control in the third with a three-run homer by Shawn Ross off Bright, who struggled through 3.1 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Altoona extended their lead to 8-4 in the sixth against relievers Juan Nunez and Dylan Coleman, capitalizing on RBI singles from Tres Gonzalez and Mike Jarvis, plus a throwing error by catcher Creed Willems that allowed Jarvis to score.
Chesapeake fought back in the seventh when Jeremiah Jackson launched a solo homer, his second of the season and first at Prince George’s Stadium. Jackson, batting .361 over his last eight games with four doubles, a homer, and six RBI, brought the Baysox within three. Creed Willems extended his hit streak to eight games with a third-inning double, and Douglas Hodo III reached base for the 15th straight game with an eighth-inning walk.
Altoona’s Emmanuel Chapman (W, 1-1) earned the win with 2.1 innings and three strikeouts, while Cam Sanders (S, 2) secured the save with a scoreless ninth. The loss marks Chesapeake’s first three-game skid of the season and their fifth defeat in six games.
“We’re in a tough stretch, but the guys are battling,” said a Baysox spokesperson. “We’ll regroup and come out strong tomorrow.” The Baysox continue their six-game homestand against Altoona on Friday at 7:05 p.m., with Ryan Long scheduled to start against Altoona’s Po-Yu Chen.
The game highlighted individual milestones amidst the team’s struggles. Bencosme’s homer and Jackson’s recent hot streak offer bright spots for a Baysox squad looking to rebound. Willems’ hitting consistency and Hodo’s on-base streak further underscore the team’s offensive potential, despite defensive and pitching challenges.
Thursday’s matchup drew fans to Prince George’s Stadium, a hub for Double-A baseball in the region. The Baysox, part of the Eastern League, aim to leverage their home-field advantage in the remaining games of the series. With a .500 record, Chesapeake remains in contention but faces pressure to reverse their recent slide.
Fans can follow the series and find ticket information at www.baysox.com.
