The Chesapeake Baysox used three home runs to secure a 7-3 win over the Akron RubberDucks on August 10, 2025, at Canal Park in Akron, Ohio. The victory improved the Baysox record to 45-62, while the RubberDucks fell to 62-46 in the Eastern League Southwest Division. Brandon Butterworth, Aron Estrada and Douglas Hodo III each homered for the Baysox, combining for six RBIs in the contest.
Baysox starter Juaron Watts-Brown pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits with seven strikeouts. Reliever Yanuel Rivera followed with one-third of an inning, and Cameron Bright earned the win with four innings of one-run relief, striking out two. The Baysox bullpen limited the RubberDucks to four hits total.
Akron took an early 2-1 lead in the first inning when Alfonsin Rosario hit a two-run home run off Watts-Brown, scoring Cooper Ingle who had walked. The Baysox responded in the third, tying the game at 2-2 on a single by Frederick Bencosme that scored Jalen Vasquez, then taking a 3-2 lead when Estrada walked with the bases loaded to force in Butterworth.
The fifth inning proved decisive for the Chesapeake Baysox win, as Butterworth led off with his second home run of the season, a solo shot to left field off Akron starter Ethan DeLucia. Bencosme followed with a single, and Estrada then hit a two-run homer to right center, his third of the year, extending the lead to 6-2. DeLucia took the loss, allowing six runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings with five strikeouts.
Hodo added insurance in the eighth with his seventh home run, a solo blast to left center off reliever Zane Tulloch, making it 7-3. Akron’s only other run came in the seventh when Jake Fox tripled to score Tyresse Turner.
Butterworth finished 2-for-2 with two walks, a home run, an RBI and two stolen bases. Estrada went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs, while Hodo was 4-for-4 with a home run, an RBI and two stolen bases. The Baysox stole six bases total, with Austin Overn adding two.
For Akron, Rosario went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Fox contributed a triple and an RBI in a 2-for-3 effort. The RubberDucks left six runners on base and committed one error.
The game lasted two hours and 44 minutes, with 4,142 in attendance under partly cloudy skies with temperatures at 86 degrees. Umpires were Brandon Spevak at home plate, Chad Patterson at first base and Drew Boffeli at third.
This Chesapeake Baysox win snapped a potential losing streak after recent defeats to the RubberDucks. On August 9, Akron defeated the Baysox 5-1, with Yorman Gomez striking out 10 in a strong outing. Earlier in the series, the Baysox fell 5-3 on August 8. The teams split the six-game series, with the Baysox taking the finale.
The Chesapeake Baysox, Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles since 1993, rebranded from Bowie Baysox in November 2024 to honor the region’s iconic waterway. They play home games at Prince George’s Stadium in Bowie, Maryland, drawing fans from nearby Southern Maryland communities like Waldorf and Upper Marlboro. The stadium, opened in 1994, seats 10,000 and hosts family-oriented events alongside baseball.
Entering the game, the Baysox sat fifth in the Eastern League Southwest Division with a 44-62 record. The Eastern League, a Double-A circuit since 1923, features 12 teams split into Northeast and Southwest divisions, with the second half of the 2025 season determining playoff qualifiers. The Baysox aim to improve on their 2024 finish, when they missed the playoffs.
Key contributor Butterworth, a 22-year-old shortstop drafted in the 12th round in 2024 from NC State, entered with a .286 average and has shown power with nine home runs across levels in 2025. His multi-hit game and steals highlight his speed, with 12 stolen bases this season.
Estrada, a 20-year-old infielder from Venezuela signed as an international free agent in 2022, has batted .256 with three home runs in Double-A after a promotion from High-A Aberdeen. His three-RBI performance ties his season high.
Hodo, a 24-year-old outfielder drafted in the sixth round in 2023 from Texas, leads the team with seven home runs and 22 stolen bases, batting .189 but providing defensive value in center field.
On the mound, Bright lowered his ERA to 4.98 with the win, his third of the season. The 25-year-old right-hander, signed as a free agent in 2024, has appeared in 20 games.
For the RubberDucks, affiliated with the Cleveland Guardians since 1989, the loss dropped them to second in the division behind Erie. They play at Canal Park, a downtown Akron venue opened in 1997 with views of the Ohio and Erie Canal.
Rosario, a 21-year-old outfielder drafted in the fifth round in 2023 from P27 Academy in South Carolina, has hit .269 with 16 home runs in High-A before a recent call-up, showing plus power and arm strength.
DeLucia, a 23-year-old right-hander drafted in the sixth round in 2023 from Ole Miss, saw his ERA rise to 3.05 after the rough outing. He entered with a 5-3 record and 85 strikeouts in 85 innings.
The Eastern League emphasizes player development, with rules like the pitch clock to mirror Major League standards. Many Baysox alumni, including Manny Machado and Adley Rutschman, have reached the Orioles.
This Chesapeake Baysox win provides momentum as they head home for a series against Binghamton starting August 13.
