The Chesapeake Baysox staged another late-game comeback, defeating the Hartford Yard Goats 5-4 Sunday afternoon in the finale of a three-game series at Prince George’s Stadium.
Chesapeake (12-8) scored four of its five runs in the seventh inning or later to secure the victory. Thomas Sosa’s go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning provided the difference in the Baysox’ second consecutive comeback win.
Hartford took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single by Jose Torres off Chesapeake starter Luis De León. Torres finished 3-for-4.
De León, the reigning Eastern League Pitcher of the Week and the Orioles’ No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, worked out of several jams to limit the damage. The left-hander went four and two-thirds innings, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out five. He has posted a 1.87 ERA with 43 strikeouts against 13 walks over his last seven starts.
The Baysox tied the game in the fourth when Brandon Butterworth led off with his fifth home run of the season. Hartford regained the lead at 3-1 in the sixth on a two-run single by Dyan Jorge.
Chesapeake responded in the seventh to knot the score at 3-3. Willy Vasquez delivered a two-run double that plated Dom Keegan and Tavian Josenberger. Hartford briefly went back in front 4-3 in the eighth on an RBI single by Mike Antico.
Sosa answered in the bottom of the eighth, launching his 10th home run of the season off Hartford left-hander Sam Weatherly. The blast scored Sosa and Aron Estrada for the 5-4 final margin.
Chesapeake right-handers Christian Herberholz and Jeisson Cabrera closed out the victory. Herberholz (1-1) earned the win by recording the first two outs of the eighth before Cabrera (3 saves) struck out the final batter with the bases loaded on a full count.
The Baysox continue their nine-game homestand Tuesday against the Erie SeaWolves, the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. at Prince George’s Stadium.
