BOWIE, Md. — Creed Willems and Adam Retzbach powered the Chesapeake Baysox to a commanding 15-6 victory over the Erie SeaWolves on August 14, 2025, at Prince George’s Stadium, combining for nine RBIs in a game that saw the home team erupt for multiple multi-run innings. The win improved the Baysox to 46-64 overall and 21-20 in the second half of the Eastern League Southwest Division season, while the first-place SeaWolves dropped to 65-46 overall and 20-21 in the second half.
The Chesapeake Baysox, Baltimore Orioles’ Double-A affiliate, built an early lead and never looked back, scoring four runs in the second inning, one in the third, four in the fourth, three in the sixth, one in the seventh and three in the eighth. Willems, a 22-year-old designated hitter ranked as the Orioles’ No. 18 prospect by MLB Pipeline, went 3-for-5 with a home run, five RBIs and two runs scored, raising his season average to .256 with 13 home runs and 46 RBIs. Retzbach, the 25-year-old catcher, contributed 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs, boosting his totals to 12 home runs and 48 RBIs while batting .233.
Nestor German earned the win for the Chesapeake Baysox, improving to 4-6 with a 4.42 ERA after pitching five innings, allowing four runs on six hits with five strikeouts. Relievers Jackson Neighbors, Max Rustad and Yohan Rivera combined for four scoreless innings, striking out three. On the mound for Erie, Jaden Hamm took the loss, falling to 2-4 with a 5.03 ERA after surrendering four runs in 1.2 innings.
The Chesapeake Baysox offense collected 15 hits, including home runs from Tavian Josenberger (his third), Willems and Retzbach. Josenberger added two RBIs, while Brandon Butterworth drove in two with a sacrifice fly and a groundout. Austin Overn scored twice and stole a base, contributing to the team’s five-for-20 performance with runners in scoring position. Defensively, the Baysox committed no errors, a clean effort that contrasted with Erie’s three miscues.
For the SeaWolves, Detroit Tigers’ Double-A affiliate, Max Clark went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, including a ninth-inning blast that accounted for two of Erie’s final runs. Danny Serretti hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fifth, and Justice Bigbie doubled in two runs during a four-run fifth inning that briefly cut the deficit to 11-4. The visitors left five runners on base and went one-for-six with runners in scoring position.
This Chesapeake Baysox win came amid a homestand against the SeaWolves, following a 3-1 loss on August 13 where Erie rallied late for an 8-6 victory. The series, part of a six-game set at Prince George’s Stadium, continues through August 18, with the Baysox aiming to climb from fifth place in the division. As of August 15, the Southwest Division standings show Erie leading with a 20-21 second-half record, followed by Akron at 22-19, Altoona at 20-21, Harrisburg at 19-22, Richmond at 18-23 and Chesapeake at 21-20 after this win.
Pitching struggles plagued the SeaWolves, who allowed 15 runs on 15 hits, including six extra-base hits by the Chesapeake Baysox. Hamm’s short outing continued a trend for Erie starters facing potent lineups, as the team ranks third in the league with a 3.85 staff ERA. The Baysox bullpen, meanwhile, limited Erie to two runs over the final four innings, showcasing depth that has helped the team despite an overall 4.12 ERA ranking eighth in the league.
This Chesapeake Baysox win provides a boost in a challenging season, where the team sits 19 games under .500 overall but has shown improvement in the second half. Earlier in 2025, the Baysox split a series with Akron, winning the finale 5-4 on August 11 behind strong relief pitching. With 20 games remaining, including road trips to Richmond and Harrisburg, the Baysox focus on developing talent like Willems and Overn, a speedy outfielder batting .265 with eight stolen bases.
Historically, the franchise has produced Orioles stars like Manny Machado and Adley Rutschman, underscoring its role in Baltimore’s farm system. This Chesapeake Baysox win against a top team like Erie, who lead the division with offensive firepower from prospects like Clark, demonstrates resilience. As the series continues, the Baysox seek to build momentum, providing exciting baseball for local audiences invested in the region’s minor league scene.
