AKRON, Ohio — The Chesapeake Baysox fell to the Akron RubberDucks by a 5-3 final on Thursday night at Canal Park.
Early offense defined the opener of the six-game series. Each team’s leadoff hitter homered in the first inning. For the Baysox (8-6, 37-46), Doug Hodo launched his third leadoff homer of the season and fifth overall in 2026, taking left-hander Caden Favors deep to right field. Akron answered immediately with Nick Mitchell’s solo shot off right-hander Evan Yates to tie the game.
Akron added single runs in the third and fourth innings on RBI hits from Jaison Chourio and Tyrese Turner. Yates (4-5) settled in after the early homer, delivering five and two-thirds innings with four strikeouts in his second-longest Double-A outing.
Favors (3-6) dominated after Hodo’s blast, retiring 14 of the next 16 batters with two walks. A brief 20-minute rain delay in the fifth did not disrupt him as he completed five and one-third innings of two-hit, one-run ball.
The RubberDucks extended their lead with two runs in the seventh against left-hander Micah Ashman. Jacob Cozart’s two-run double down the first base line made it 5-1. Right-hander Ryan Long provided strong relief, striking out all five batters he faced.
Chesapeake mounted late threats, loading the bases in the seventh and eighth. Griff O’Ferrall delivered an eighth-inning sacrifice fly, and Aron Estrada added an RBI groundout in the ninth. However, right-hander Alaska Abney (2 saves) induced a game-ending groundout from Anderson De Los Santos.
The Baysox continue the series Friday night at 7:17 p.m. Left-hander Sebastian Gongora (7-3, 3.18 ERA) starts for Chesapeake against Akron right-hander Dylan DeLucia (1-5, 7.18 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.
