BOWIE, Md. — The Chesapeake Baysox dropped their Friday night road contest to the Erie SeaWolves 7-4, falling to 11-13 on the young 2026 Eastern League season as the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles wrapped up the first game of a six-game series at UPMC Park in Erie, Pa.
Erie jumped on right-hander Juaron Watts-Brown early in his season debut. Watts-Brown, activated off the injured list just hours before first pitch, surrendered five runs in the opening frame on a pair of doubles, two two-run home runs from Brett Callahan and EJ Exposito, and an RBI double off the bat of Andrew Jenkins. The SeaWolves tacked on a sixth run in the third when John Peck launched a solo home run. Watts-Brown settled in after the shaky start, allowing just that one additional run over his final three innings while striking out five batters. He took the loss and fell to 0-1.
The Baysox offense was held in check through the first five innings against a SeaWolves bullpen game. Chesapeake finally broke through in the sixth when Alfredo Velásquez led off with the team’s first hit of the night, a single. Ethan Anderson followed with a walk that extended his on-base streak to nine consecutive games. With two outs, Anderson De Los Santos delivered a two-run double into left-center field, scoring Velásquez and Anderson to cut the deficit to 6-2. Both runs were charged to Erie right-hander Trevin Michael, who earned the win and improved to 2-1.
Chesapeake’s bullpen provided quality relief in the middle innings. Right-handers Jeisson Cabrera (one and one-third innings) and Carlos Tavera (one and two-third innings) combined for three scoreless frames, keeping the Baysox within striking distance. Erie added its final run in the eighth against right-hander Ben Vespi on three consecutive hits, including an RBI single from Jenkins for his second RBI of the contest.
The Baysox mounted a late rally in the ninth. Griff O’Ferrall crushed a two-run opposite-field home run — his second long ball of the season — to bring Chesapeake within 7-4. The comeback fell short, however, as the SeaWolves closed out the victory.
The loss dropped the Baysox to 11-13 overall while Erie improved its record. Watts-Brown’s debut highlighted both the promise and the challenge of early-season pitching depth for Chesapeake, which continues to integrate recently activated arms into the rotation. Offensively, the late contributions from De Los Santos and O’Ferrall showed the lineup’s potential to mount comebacks, while Anderson’s continued on-base consistency remains a bright spot in the early going.
The Baysox will look to even the series Saturday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET at UPMC Park. Following the weekend set in Erie, Chesapeake returns home for a six-game homestand beginning Tuesday, May 5, against the Altoona Curve, the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Fans throughout Southern Maryland have followed the Baysox closely since the team’s move to Prince George’s County Stadium in Bowie. As the primary player-development pipeline for the Baltimore Orioles, Chesapeake regularly showcases top prospects who could one day wear the orange and black at Camden Yards. Early-season games like Friday’s showcase the competitive balance of the Eastern League, where small margins and timely hitting often decide outcomes.
Despite the defeat, the Baysox demonstrated resilience in the later innings against a SeaWolves squad that has started the season strong. Manager Jeff Smith and his staff will focus on building on the positive relief outings and the power displayed by O’Ferrall as the team aims to climb back toward .500 and position itself for a strong push through the first half of the schedule.
Chesapeake’s next homestand offers a chance for local supporters to see the club in person as the weather warms and the season progresses. With several promising young players already making contributions, the Baysox remain optimistic about their ability to compete night in and night out in one of Minor League Baseball’s most competitive Double-A circuits.
