On July 23, 2026, the Chesapeake Baysox, the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, fell 8-7 to the Erie SeaWolves, the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, at Prince George’s Stadium in Bowie, Maryland. The Baysox’s four-game winning streak was snapped as their record dropped to 14-9 in the Double-A Eastern League.
Brandon Butterworth’s Fourth Straight Game Home Run Gives Baysox Early Lead
The Baysox scored first with a two-out rally in the opening inning. Brandon Butterworth launched his fourth consecutive game home run and eighth of the season to give Chesapeake a 1-0 advantage. The rally continued as Anderson De Los Santos singled, and Griff O’Farrell followed with an RBI single, pushing the lead to 2-0.
Erie SeaWolves Counter with Power and Runs to Take Lead
Erie responded with a four-run third inning, highlighted by Garrett Pennington’s three-run homer that gave the SeaWolves a 4-2 lead. The SeaWolves added two more runs in the fifth inning, including RBIs from Justice Bigbie, who went 3-for-5 with 2 RBIs. Right-hander Kenny Serwa settled in after the first inning, pitching five scoreless frames to earn the win.
Baysox Rally Late but Fall Short in Ninth
The Baysox fought back with a two-run sixth inning capped by an RBI double from Adam Retzbach, shrinking the deficit to 6-4. Retzbach delivered another two-out RBI double in the eighth inning, cutting Erie’s lead to 6-5. Erie added two insurance runs in the ninth, including a run on a Chesapeake throwing error and an RBI sacrifice fly, extending their lead to 8-5.
In the bottom of the ninth, Frederick Bencosme blasted a two-run homer, scoring Aron Estrada and narrowing the score to 8-7 with no outs. Brandon Butterworth and Anderson De Los Santos reached base, but the Baysox could not complete the comeback against Erie closer Eric Silva.
Pitching and Next Steps
Starting pitcher Sebastian Gongora took the loss, lowering his record to 8-5. Gerald Ogando and Micah Ashman combined for scoreless middle innings. The Baysox will look to rebound on July 24, when left-hander Joseph Dzierwa faces Erie right-hander Hayden Minton at 7:05 p.m. at Prince George’s Stadium.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Brandon Butterworth’s power hitting remains a bright spot for the Chesapeake Baysox as he extended his home run streak to four games. Frederick Bencosme’s late homer showcased the Baysox’s resilience. However, defensive errors and an inability to capitalize fully in the ninth inning contributed to the narrow loss. As the team continues in the Double-A Eastern League, improving defensive consistency and sustaining offensive momentum will be key to future victories.
Source: Original report
