The Chesapeake Baysox fell to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies by a 5-3 final on Tuesday night in a game that featured two separate weather delays totaling two hours and 36 minutes.
The originally scheduled 6:07 p.m. first pitch was pushed to 7:00 p.m. due to storms in the area. After an inning and a half, the Baysox defense was pulled off the field as heavy rainfall required the tarp to be put on. The field took heavy rain for approximately one hour, and after a one hour, 17-minute in-game delay, the contest resumed with the bottom of the second.
Chesapeake (2-4, 31-43) fell behind early, as Binghamton scored all five of its runs in its first two trips to the plate.
Baysox left-handed starter Luis De León went just one inning due to the lengthy in-game delay. With runners at the corners and one out, the Rumble Ponies sent their runner at first base into motion to stay out of a double play. Despite De León generating the ground ball, JT Schwartz’s groundout brought home the game’s opening run. An error on an infield single plated an additional run in the frame.
After the game resumed in the bottom of the second, Binghamton rallied for three runs with two outs in the inning off right-hander Gerald Ogando. A walk and a pop-up single on the infield put runners at the corners. Then, after a steal of second, a balk and wild pitch in quick succession brought home two additional runs. An RBI single later in the frame from Nick Lorusso capped off the three-run inning for the Rumble Ponies.
From there, the Baysox bullpen was dominant. Left-hander Juan Rojas (3 IP), along with right-handers Keagan Gillies (1.1 IP) and Zane Barnhart (2 IP) combined to retire the final 19 Binghamton batters. The trio combined for nine strikeouts, with Rojas and Barnhart each fanning four.
At the plate, the Baysox had a couple of chances but were unable to fully capitalize. Chesapeake loaded the bases on three consecutive walks to start the top of the third and would score two in the frame. After a ground ball double play hit into by Thomas Sosa plated a run, Aron Estrada ripped one of three Baysox hits, a two-out RBI single to cut the deficit to 5-2.
The only other Baysox run came in a fourth inning groundout from Willy Vasquez. Griff O’Ferrall notched the other two Chesapeake hits for his seventh multi-hit game of the season.
Baysox bats were neutralized late by the Rumble Ponies’ bullpen. Binghamton left-hander Felipe De La Cruz (W, 1-1) contributed a pair of scoreless innings before right-hander Saul Garcia (S, 2) finished things off with a scoreless ninth.
Chesapeake continues the six-game series in Binghamton on Wednesday night. Right-hander Juaron Watts-Brown (0-7, 7.22 ERA) is slated to start for the Baysox against Rumble Ponies right-hander Brendan Girton (1-3, 5.87 ERA). First pitch from Mirabito Stadium is set for 6:07 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Baysox will return to Prince George’s Stadium following the MLB All-Star Break on Friday, July 17, when Chesapeake opens a nine-game homestand with a three-game series against the Hartford Yard Goats, the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. First pitch on July 17 is set for 7:05 p.m. ET.
The game was a test of resilience for the Baysox as they navigated multiple delays and an early deficit. The bullpen’s performance was a bright spot, retiring the final 19 batters faced.
For Southern Maryland fans, the Baysox provide a close opportunity to watch future Orioles talent. The team’s home at Prince George’s Stadium in Bowie draws fans from the region for Double-A baseball action.
The series in Binghamton continues Wednesday as the Baysox look to bounce back from the loss. The upcoming homestand after the All-Star Break will give local fans more chances to see the team in action.
