AKRON, Ohio — The Chesapeake Baysox dropped the series opener to the Akron RubberDucks on Wednesday night by an 8-2 final at Canal Park.
The contest opened as a classic pitcher’s duel between Chesapeake right-hander Juaron Watts-Brown and Akron lefty Josh Hartle. The Baysox (8-5, 37-44) struck first in the top of the first when Anderson De Los Santos delivered a two-out RBI single.
Watts-Brown escaped early trouble after allowing a leadoff triple to Nick Mitchell but struck out the next three batters. Mitchell tied the game with a third-inning double, but that was the only run Watts-Brown surrendered. The 24-year-old matched a Double-A career high with eight strikeouts, scattering four hits and one walk over his outing. He threw a season-high 92 pitches in his strongest recent start for the Orioles organization. Over his last four outings, Watts-Brown owns a 2.95 ERA with 27 strikeouts against just five walks.
Chesapeake took a 2-1 lead in the fifth on Adam Retzbach’s solo homer — his fourth of the season — but the advantage evaporated when the Baysox bullpen struggled. Akron erupted for seven runs across the sixth and seventh innings.
Right-hander Zane Barnhart (1-3) issued two hit-by-pitches with two outs in the sixth. Jose Devers cleared the bases with a two-run triple, and Jonah Advincula followed with a two-run homer to put the RubberDucks ahead 5-2. Akron added three more in the seventh off Keagan Gillies, highlighted by Bennett Thompson’s two-run single and a wild pitch that plated another run.
Akron right-hander Sean Matson (1-3) shut down the Baysox over the final three innings, allowing just one hit.
The Baysox will look to bounce back in the series continuation Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. Right-hander Evan Yates (4-4, 5.25 ERA) gets the ball for Chesapeake against Akron left-hander Caden Favors (2-6, 6.01 ERA).
Chesapeake returns home to Prince George’s Stadium after the All-Star Break, opening a nine-game homestand Friday, July 17 against the Hartford Yard Goats with first pitch at 7:05 p.m.
The Baysox remain competitive in the Eastern League standings despite the loss, continuing to showcase promising arms like Watts-Brown amid a challenging road stretch.
