AKRON, Ohio — The Chesapeake Baysox scored on a wild pitch in the top of the 10th inning Tuesday night, securing a 2-1 victory over the Akron RubberDucks in the opener of a six-game series. The win extended the Baysox’ winning streak to six games.
Chesapeake (8-4, 37-43) trailed 1-0 entering the eighth before rallying. Consecutive hits from Tavian Josenberger and Doug Hodo put runners on, but Aron Estrada lined out sharply to first baseman Maick Collado, who doubled off Hodo at first. With two outs, Brandon Butterworth’s pop fly to shallow center was misplayed after center fielder Alfonsin Rosario called off second baseman Christian Knapczyk, allowing Josenberger to score the tying run.
The score remained tied thanks to dominant relief pitching. Right-hander Ben Vespi retired six of seven batters faced, striking out four—including three in the ninth—to strand the potential winning run. Vespi (1-3) earned the victory. In the 10th, Fernando Peguero pinch-ran for Dom Keegan (who had two hits in his Baysox debut), advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a wild pitch from Akron’s Zane Morehouse (0-1). Left-hander Jeisson Cabrera earned his second save with a perfect 10th.
Akron’s only run came on a second-inning solo homer by Collado against left-hander Joseph Dzierwa, who pitched five strong innings in his home-state pro debut, allowing three hits and striking out three. Left-hander Juan Rojas followed with two scoreless frames. The Baysox bullpen has posted a 1.54 ERA (four earned runs in 23.1 innings) during the current streak.
Chesapeake has won 11 of its last 15 games and boasts a 2.33 ERA over that span — the lowest in Minor League Baseball. Tuesday marked the third time in the streak the Baysox came from behind in the eighth or later.
The Baysox seek a seventh straight win Wednesday night at 6:35 p.m. against the RubberDucks. Right-hander Juaron Watts-Brown (1-7, 6.75 ERA) starts for Chesapeake against left-hander Josh Hartle (3-4, 4.65 ERA).
The team returns home to Prince George’s Stadium after the MLB All-Star Break, opening a nine-game homestand Friday, July 17 against the Hartford Yard Goats at 7:05 p.m. ET.
