The Chesapeake Baysox lost 4-1 to the Altoona Curve on Friday, July 31, 2026, at Peoples Natural Gas Field in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Aron Estrada doubled twice and extended his hitting streak to eight games, but Altoona scored three runs in the sixth inning to take the lead for good.
The Chesapeake Baysox, the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, entered the game with a 17-13 record in its current stretch and a 46-52 overall record. The Altoona Curve are the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Joseph Dzierwa Delivers Five Strong Innings
Joseph Dzierwa allowed one unearned run in five innings for the Chesapeake Baysox. The left-handed pitcher struck out five, walked one and allowed only one hit after the second inning.
Altoona scored in the second inning after a leadoff single, an error and a deep fly ball moved runners into scoring position. An errant back-pick attempt from catcher Adam Retzbach went into left field and allowed the opening run to score. Dzierwa escaped the inning with a strikeout and a groundout, then allowed only one additional hit during the rest of his outing.
Dzierwa lowered his season ERA with the Chesapeake Baysox to 2.28. Matt Ager finished the sixth inning for the Altoona Curve, earned the win and was listed with a 5-2 record after scattering eight hits and allowing one run.
Sixth-Inning Rallies Decide the Game
The Chesapeake Baysox remained scoreless until the sixth inning, when Thomas Sosa and Griff O’Ferrall opened the frame with back-to-back hits. Frederick Bencosme moved both runners up with a sacrifice, and Anderson De Los Santos followed with an RBI single that tied the game at 1.
An attempted squeeze play by Retzbach ended with a close play at the plate as O’Ferrall tried to score the go-ahead run. The Altoona Curve then regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning against Gerald Ogando.
Two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out. Callan Moss brought home a run on a broken-bat ground ball, and Ogando hit another batter to force in a second run. A bases-loaded walk brought home Altoona’s third run of the inning, and Ogando was charged with the loss and listed with a 1-1 record.
Aron Estrada and Griff O’Ferrall Extend Streaks
Aron Estrada doubled twice for the Chesapeake Baysox and finished July with an eight-game hitting streak. He hit .341 during the month with a .883 OPS.
Griff O’Ferrall went 2-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to eight games. He also recorded his fifth consecutive game with multiple hits.
The Chesapeake Baysox were held scoreless over the final three innings. Jaycob Deese pitched a perfect ninth inning for the Altoona Curve and recorded his second save.
Chesapeake Baysox Continue Series Saturday
The Chesapeake Baysox were scheduled to continue their six-game series against the Altoona Curve on Saturday, Aug. 1. Right-hander Pat Reilly was scheduled to start for Chesapeake against Altoona right-hander Kyle Robinson, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. Eastern time at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
The Chesapeake Baysox were scheduled to return home Tuesday, Aug. 4, to open a seven-game series against the Harrisburg Senators, the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The scheduled first pitch was 6:35 p.m.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
The Chesapeake Baysox received five strong innings from Joseph Dzierwa and offensive production from Aron Estrada and Griff O’Ferrall, but the Altoona Curve’s three-run sixth inning decided the game. Chesapeake tied the score in the sixth, yet Altoona answered immediately and held the Baysox scoreless over the final three innings.
Estrada and O’Ferrall carried eight-game hitting streaks into the scheduled continuation of the series Saturday. The Chesapeake Baysox were also scheduled to send Pat Reilly against Kyle Robinson in the next game.
Source: Original report
