Chesapeake Baysox Weekly Recap: Estrada Grand Slam, Anderson Power Surge Lead Strong Week

The Chesapeake Baysox had one of their most exciting weeks of the season, going 3-2 since last Friday and climbing back to 4-4 in the second half after Thursday night’s wild comeback win over Binghamton. Chesapeake entered Friday at 33-43 overall, 4-4 in the second half, and 3.5 games behind Erie in the Eastern League Southwest second-half standings.

The week had a little bit of everything. Cade Povich made a rehab start before later being optioned back to Norfolk. Ethan Anderson kept adding to his breakout power season. Aron Estrada delivered the biggest swing of the week with a ninth-inning grand slam. Joseph Dzierwa continued to look like one of the Orioles’ best pitching stories in the minors.

Weekly Results

Friday, June 26: Harrisburg 8, Chesapeake 3

The Baysox opened the week with an 8-3 loss to Harrisburg. Chesapeake fell behind 4-0 before Anderson cut the deficit with a two-run homer in the fifth inning, his 15th home run of the season. Povich started on rehab and went 3.2 innings, allowing five hits, three earned runs and one walk while striking out four.

Saturday, June 27: Chesapeake 4, Harrisburg 1

Chesapeake bounced back with one of its best pitching performances of the season. Sebastian Gongora, Jeisson Cabrera and Micah Ashman combined on a one-hitter in a 4-1 win. Gongora did not allow a hit over five innings, Estrada hit his 13th home run, and Ashman finished the final two innings to earn the save.

Sunday, June 28: Postponed

The Baysox and Senators had Sunday’s series finale postponed because of rain. Chesapeake then hit the road for Binghamton.

Tuesday, June 30: Binghamton 5, Chesapeake 3

The Baysox dropped a strange, weather-delayed game in Binghamton. The contest included two delays totaling two hours and 36 minutes, and Chesapeake fell behind 5-0 after two innings. The bullpen was excellent after that, with Juan Rojas, Keagan Gillies and Zane Barnhart combining to retire the final 19 Binghamton hitters. Griff O’Ferrall had two hits, while Estrada drove in a run.

Wednesday, July 1: Chesapeake 8, Binghamton 4

The Baysox exploded early and scored all eight runs in the first four innings. Anderson hit his team-leading 16th home run, Thomas Sosa added his seventh homer, and Willy Vasquez hit his second Baysox homer. Juaron Watts-Brown earned the win with 5.1 innings and four strikeouts, while Ben Vespi gave Chesapeake important bullpen length.

Thursday, July 2: Chesapeake 8, Binghamton 4

This was the game of the week. Chesapeake trailed 4-2 entering the ninth before scoring six runs. Estrada capped a four-hit night with a go-ahead grand slam, his 14th home run of the season. Anderson followed on the next pitch with a 431-foot homer, his 17th, giving him homers in back-to-back games. Dzierwa was outstanding, throwing 4.2 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.

Top Performer: Aron Estrada

Estrada was the easy choice. His four-hit game Thursday, capped by a go-ahead grand slam, was the biggest moment of the week. For the season, Estrada is hitting .281 with 14 home runs, 43 RBI and an .814 OPS.

Power Watch: Ethan Anderson

Anderson continues to be one of the biggest breakout bats in the Orioles’ system. After homering Friday, Wednesday and Thursday, Anderson is up to 17 home runs, 33 RBI and an .886 OPS. Chesapeake’s official stats list Anderson with a .266 average, .363 OBP and .523 slugging percentage.

Pitching Standout: Joseph Dzierwa

Dzierwa keeps forcing attention. The left-hander threw 4.2 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts Thursday, and his 103 strikeouts across all levels were listed by the Baysox as second-most in Minor League Baseball after that outing. Dzierwa was also named to the 2026 MLB All-Star Futures Game.

Other Names to Watch

Frederick Bencosme remains one of Chesapeake’s more steady bats, carrying a .266 average, 10 home runs, 36 RBI and an .819 OPS. Douglas Hodo III has also produced in a smaller sample, hitting .267 with an .842 OPS through 23 games with Chesapeake.

MSB Take

This was a strong week for the Baysox because it showed fight. Chesapeake could have folded after the Friday loss and the ugly start Tuesday, but the team responded with better pitching, more power and a huge ninth-inning comeback.

Estrada and Anderson are giving the lineup real punch. Dzierwa looks like a legitimate rising arm. Gongora and Ashman gave the Baysox a shutdown pitching night Saturday. The record is still below .500 overall, but the second half is alive.

For Orioles fans, Chesapeake is a team worth following closely. Anderson’s power is real. Estrada’s bat is heating up. Dzierwa looks like a future big-league arm. The Baysox may not have the best overall record, but the prospect development is starting to stand out.