The Chesapeake Baysox used timely hitting and strong pitching to secure a 5-1 victory over the Altoona Curve on Friday night at Prince George’s Stadium in Bowie.
The Orioles Double-A affiliate improved to 14-16 and won its third straight game, snapping a six-game losing streak. Altoona is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Altoona scored the game’s first run in the top of the first inning. Right-hander Christian Herberholz settled in after the early run, completing four innings for the first time at Double-A and retiring eight of the last nine hitters he faced.
The Baysox answered immediately. After a one-out walk to Jackson Holliday, Thomas Sosa launched a two-run home run to left-center field, his second of the season, giving Chesapeake a 2-1 lead. Holliday drew three walks and went 0-for-1 in his second game of the major league rehab assignment while playing six innings at second base.
Chesapeake added a run in the fourth when they loaded the bases on two hits and a walk. Adam Retzbach scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-1. Retzbach later delivered a two-out, two-run single in the sixth to extend the lead to 5-1.
Frederick Bencosme recorded his first three-hit game of the season, including two doubles. Maverick Handley added a pair of hits and reached base three times.
The Baysox bullpen was outstanding. Right-hander Daniel Lloyd escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth with a strikeout and double-play ball. Right-hander Jeisson Cabrera (2-1) added two scoreless innings, and left-hander Micah Ashman struck out the side in the ninth.
Altoona right-hander Khristian Curtis (0-5) took the loss.
Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday began his major league rehab assignment with the Baysox on Thursday and played Friday as the designated hitter. The 2022 top overall draft pick last played for the Baysox in 2023. He underwent surgery to repair a fractured right hamate bone in February and has been rehabbing at Triple-A Norfolk and High-A Frederick.
Prince George’s Stadium, located about an hour’s drive from Southern Maryland, continues to attract fans from Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties who enjoy affordable minor-league baseball and a chance to see future Orioles stars. The Baysox have won two of the first three games in their six-game series with Altoona.
The series continues Saturday night with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. from Prince George’s Stadium in Bowie.
