The Erie SeaWolves overcame a late deficit with three runs in the ninth inning to defeat the Chesapeake Baysox 8-6 on August 13, 2025, at Prince George’s Stadium, extending their lead in the Eastern League Southwest Division second-half standings.
Kevin McGonigle delivered a go-ahead two-run home run in the ninth off Daniel Lloyd, his fifth of the season, capping a comeback for the SeaWolves, who improved to 65-44 overall and 20-20 in the second half. The Chesapeake Baysox, falling to 44-64 and 13-28, saw Creed Willems hit two home runs, but it was not enough to hold off Erie’s late surge.
Erie jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first when Max Clark scored on a wild pitch by Zach Fruit, and McGonigle crossed on Ben Malgeri’s sacrifice fly to left. Willems responded for the Chesapeake Baysox with his 11th home run, a solo shot to right in the bottom half off Garrett Burhenn. Douglas Hodo III then gave the Chesapeake Baysox a 3-2 edge in the second with a two-run homer to left, his eighth, scoring Max Wagner after his double.
The SeaWolves tied it at 3-3 in the third on John Peck’s sacrifice fly scoring McGonigle, who had stolen third. Josue Briceño put Erie ahead 4-3 in the fourth with a single to left scoring Seth Stephenson. Willems knotted it again at 4-4 with his second homer, his 12th, leading off the sixth against Burhenn.
In the eighth, Peck scored on Lloyd’s wild pitch for a 5-4 SeaWolves lead, but the Chesapeake Baysox answered when Adam Retzbach doubled in Brandon Butterworth, and Tavian Josenberger scored on Carter Young’s sacrifice bunt, taking a 6-5 advantage. Erie then exploded in the ninth: McGonigle’s homer scored Clark, and Peck’s single plated Justice Bigbie for the final 8-6 margin.
Trevin Michael earned the win for Erie, his first, allowing two runs over two innings with three strikeouts. Lloyd took the loss, his fourth against six wins, yielding four runs in two innings. Burhenn started for the SeaWolves, giving up four runs on seven hits in five innings. Fruit went three and one-third for the Chesapeake Baysox, surrendering four runs on two hits with eight walks.
McGonigle finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and his home run, stealing a base. Peck drove in two with a single and sacrifice fly in his second game since joining Erie. Willems went 2-for-5 with two homers and two RBIs for the Chesapeake Baysox. Hodo added two RBIs with his homer, and Enrique Bradfield Jr. had two hits and two stolen bases.
The Eastern League, founded in 1923, includes 12 teams in two divisions, serving as a key step for prospects. Erie, affiliate of the Detroit Tigers since 2001, seeks a third straight league title, bolstered by prospects like McGonigle, a 2023 first-round pick from Monsignor Bonner High School in Pennsylvania, batting .299 with 24 RBIs.
Willems, a 2022 eighth-round pick from Canada, has 41 RBIs this season. Bradfield Jr., the Orioles’ 2023 first-rounder from Vanderbilt, leads with 16 steals. The Chesapeake Baysox roster includes nine players from the 2025 Spring Breakout, showcasing Baltimore’s farm system depth.
The series continues August 14 with Erie’s RJ Petit (6-3, 3.12 ERA) facing Chesapeake’s Patrick Reilly (4-5, 4.56 ERA), first pitch at 6:35 p.m.
This loss drops the Chesapeake Baysox further in the standings, but their promotional schedule, including 19 fireworks shows and theme nights, aims to boost attendance. Erie’s win streak highlights their resilience, with manager Gabe Alvarez noting the team’s clutch hitting in post-game comments from earlier series.
