AKRON, Ohio — The Akron RubberDucks defeated the Bowie Baysox 4-1 in an Eastern League game at Canal Park, delayed 43 minutes due to drizzle. The win improved Akron’s record to 36-18, while the Baysox fell to 24-29. Strong pitching and timely hitting before 4,593 fans secured the victory for the RubberDucks.
Akron took the lead in the third inning when Tyresse Turner scored on a sacrifice fly by Dayan Frias. A wild pitch by Baysox starter Ryan Long allowed Cooper Ingle to score, and Kahlil Watson crossed the plate on a forceout by Cameron Barstad, making it 3-0. In the fourth, Turner scored again on another Frias sacrifice fly, aided by a fielding error from Baysox left fielder Noelberth Romero, extending the lead to 4-0.
The Baysox answered in the fifth when Frederick Bencosme hit a solo home run off Akron starter Austin Peterson, his sixth of the season, narrowing the score to 4-1. Despite the effort, the Baysox struggled offensively, leaving three runners on base and striking out 13 times.
Peterson earned the win, improving to 4-2 with a 1.47 ERA. He pitched six innings, allowing one run on three hits with seven strikeouts. Jake Miller pitched two scoreless innings, and Zach Jacobs closed the ninth for his second save. Long took the loss for the Baysox, falling to 2-3 with a 4.70 ERA after allowing three runs in 2.1 innings. Relievers Nate Webb, Yaqui Rivera, and Walter Pennington limited further damage, with Webb allowing an unearned run and Rivera and Pennington pitching scoreless outings.
Akron’s offense was paced by Frias, who drove in two runs with sacrifice flies, and Joe Lampe, who went 2-for-4 with two singles. Barstad added an RBI and stole a base. For the Baysox, Bencosme’s homer was the highlight, with Max Wagner and Creed Willems each contributing a single.
Defensive errors hurt the Baysox, with Romero and right fielder Luis Valdez committing miscues. Akron’s baserunning was effective, though Dayan Frias was caught stealing home in the first. The game lasted 2 hours and 36 minutes under cloudy skies, with 75-degree temperatures and a light wind from center field.
The RubberDucks, second in the EAS Southwest, bolstered their standing with the win. The Baysox, fourth in the division, faced challenges with their offense and defense. The game underscored Akron’s pitching strength and ability to capitalize on opponents’ mistakes, key elements of their 2025 season.
