The Chesapeake Baysox dropped their series opener against the Akron RubberDucks by a 6-3 final on Tuesday night at 7 17 Credit Union Park in Akron, Ohio.
The Orioles Double-A affiliate fell to 14-19 on the season. The RubberDucks are the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians.
Despite the loss, shortstop Griff O’Ferrall continued his strong month of May with a three-hit performance, including two doubles. His fifth-inning double plated Carter Young for the game’s first run, giving the Baysox a 1-0 lead. O’Ferrall now has nine doubles on the season, tied for the team lead. He has hit six doubles in his past five games and eight in his last eight contests. For the month of May, O’Ferrall is hitting .294 with a .986 OPS.
On the mound, left-hander Sebastian Gongora made his first professional appearance at Akron’s 7 17 Credit Union Park. As a junior in high school, Gongora threw a complete game there to help Chaminade-Julienne win the OHSAA Division II State Championship in 2019. Gongora kept the RubberDucks off the board until the bottom of the fifth, when Ralphy Velazquez hit a two-run homer to give Akron a 2-1 lead. Gongora allowed just those two runs on one hit and struck out five in four and two-thirds innings.
The Baysox tied the game in the top of the sixth. Anderson De Los Santos walked and later scored on a successful sacrifice bunt by Adam Retzbach off right-hander Shawn Armstrong, who was pitching for Akron as part of an MLB rehab assignment for the Guardians.
Akron took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, three consecutive walks from right-hander Jeisson Cabrera (2-2) loaded the bases. Nick Mitchell then tripled home all three runs against left-hander Micah Ashman to give the RubberDucks a 5-2 advantage. Mitchell later scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-2.
Chesapeake added a late run in the top of the ninth when Tavian Josenberger led off with a triple and scored on a groundout by Young.
Frederick Bencosme singled in the sixth inning, extending his on-base streak to a team-high nine games. Right-hander Daniel Lloyd pitched two innings of scoreless relief for the Baysox.
The Baysox will look to even the series on Wednesday night when left-hander Luis De León (1-2, 6.26 ERA) takes the ball against Akron right-hander Dylan DeLucia (0-2, 8.41 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. from 7 17 Credit Union Park.
The next Baysox homestand begins Tuesday, May 19, when Chesapeake opens a six-game set against the Somerset Patriots, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees.
