Chesapeake Baysox Weekly Recap: Pitching Carries Baysox to Strong 4-2 Week

The Chesapeake Baysox put together one of their best stretches of the season since June 19, finishing the week with a 4-2 record while getting strong starting pitching, timely home runs and major contributions from several important Orioles prospects.

Chesapeake opened the stretch by taking the final three games of its series against the Richmond Flying Squirrels before splitting the first three games of a home series against the Harrisburg Senators. The Baysox did not just win games during the stretch. The club won in different ways.

On June 19, Chesapeake rode Evan Yates and the bullpen to a 4-2 win. On June 20, Joseph Dzierwa dominated Richmond in a 7-1 victory. On June 21, Cade Povich made a sharp rehab start before Sebastian Gongora finished off an 8-0 shutout. On June 23, Luis De León flashed his strikeout upside in a 4-2 win over Harrisburg.

The final two games of the stretch were frustrating. Juaron Watts-Brown pitched well enough to win on June 24, but the Baysox fell 3-2. Yates started strong again on June 25 before one bad inning helped Harrisburg take a 5-1 win.

Still, the week should be viewed as a positive one for Chesapeake. The Baysox finished 4-2, received outstanding starting pitching and saw several hitters continue to make an impact.

June 19: Baysox 4, Flying Squirrels 2

Chesapeake started the week with a strong 4-2 win over Richmond.

Pitching carried the Baysox. Evan Yates delivered his longest outing of the season, working six innings while allowing just one run. Yates struck out five and walked two, giving Chesapeake exactly what it needed from a starter.

Micah Ashman followed with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Ashman continued to show why he has become one of the more reliable relief arms in the Orioles’ Double-A system.

The Baysox offense did not dominate with runners in scoring position, but Chesapeake made up for that by leaving the yard. Ethan Anderson homered as part of a three-hit night. Frederick Bencosme added a solo home run, and Thomas Sosa delivered the biggest swing with a two-run homer.

The win showed a formula Chesapeake leaned on all week: strong starting pitching, reliable bullpen work and enough power to win close games.

June 20: Baysox 7, Flying Squirrels 1

The Baysox followed Friday’s win with an even cleaner performance Saturday, beating Richmond 7-1.

Chesapeake jumped on Richmond early with a five-run first inning. Anderson De Los Santos opened the scoring with a three-run home run, giving the Baysox immediate control. Bencosme followed with another homer, and Adam Retzbach added an RBI single.

That early offense gave Joseph Dzierwa plenty of room to work.

Dzierwa was outstanding. The left-hander allowed one run on two hits over six innings while striking out eight and walking only one. It was one of the best starts of the week anywhere in the Orioles system.

Ethan Anderson added another solo home run in the fifth inning. De Los Santos later drew a bases-loaded walk, giving Chesapeake another run and another example of his ability to impact games with power and plate discipline.

Dylan Beavers also continued his rehab assignment with Chesapeake. Beavers went 0-for-3 but walked twice and scored a run. Even without a hit, getting on base twice was a positive sign.

June 21: Baysox 8, Flying Squirrels 0

Sunday’s win was the most complete performance of the week.

Chesapeake beat Richmond 8-0 behind a dominant pitching effort and a powerful day from Douglas Hodo III and Aron Estrada.

Cade Povich made a rehab start for Chesapeake and looked sharp. That was one of the biggest developments of the week because Povich is part of Baltimore’s big-league pitching depth. A clean rehab appearance at Double-A gives the Orioles another encouraging sign as they evaluate potential pitching reinforcements.

After Povich, Zane Barnhart recorded key outs before Sebastian Gongora took over. Gongora was excellent, throwing five scoreless innings while allowing only two hits. Gongora walked two, hit one batter and struck out three while finishing the shutout.

The offense started fast. Hodo led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run. Estrada later added a bases-loaded single to bring in two more runs.

Hodo and Estrada were the offensive stars. Hodo went 3-for-5 with two homers, two RBIs and nine total bases. Estrada went 3-for-4 with a homer and five RBIs.

The win capped a sweep of the final three games against Richmond and gave Chesapeake serious momentum heading into the Harrisburg series.

June 22: Scheduled Off Day

The Orioles’ affiliates were off Monday.

For Chesapeake, the break came at a good time. The Baysox had just finished three straight wins and had several arms working well. The off day gave the club a reset before opening a new series against Harrisburg.

June 23: Baysox 4, Senators 2

Chesapeake returned from the off day with another 4-2 win, this time against Harrisburg.

Luis De León gave the Baysox five strong innings. De León allowed three hits, two earned runs and one walk while striking out eight. The only real mistake came on a two-run homer in the second inning.

De León’s strikeout ability remains one of the most important traits in Chesapeake’s rotation. Walks have been an issue during the season, but his raw stuff continues to stand out.

The Baysox trailed 2-0 entering the sixth inning before the offense finally broke through. Estrada opened the inning with a walk, and Ethan Anderson followed with a single. After Thomas Sosa struck out, Anderson De Los Santos delivered the swing of the game.

De Los Santos crushed a three-run homer to right-center, turning a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead.

Chesapeake added another run in the seventh. Hodo singled, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored when Anderson put the ball in play and Harrisburg failed to complete the play at the plate.

It was another well-rounded win: starting pitching, power, speed and pressure on the defense.

June 24: Senators 3, Baysox 2

Chesapeake’s winning streak ended Wednesday, but Juaron Watts-Brown gave the Baysox a strong start.

Watts-Brown allowed one run over six innings. The right-hander gave up five hits, walked one and struck out eight. The performance should be viewed as one of the best individual outings of the week, even though the Baysox lost 3-2.

The game got away late. Cohen Achen allowed an unearned run in the seventh after an error. Juan Rojas was charged with another run in the ninth after walking the leadoff batter.

The offense could not do enough to support Watts-Brown. Chesapeake stayed close but did not deliver the big inning it needed.

That loss was frustrating because the Baysox had the type of starting pitching that usually wins games.

June 25: Senators 5, Baysox 1

The week ended with a 5-1 loss to Harrisburg.

Yates opened the game with three scoreless innings, but the fourth inning changed everything. Harrisburg scored four runs against him, using a two-run homer, an RBI triple and a sacrifice fly to take control.

Yates finished with five hits allowed, five strikeouts and two walks.

The bullpen kept Chesapeake within range. Keagan Gillies, Ryan Long and Gerald Ogando combined for five innings of one-run relief. That gave the offense time to rally, but the bats never fully woke up.

The Baysox managed only four hits. Tavian Josenberger doubled for the club’s only extra-base hit, and Hodo drove in the only run with a groundout in the fifth inning.

It was a flat offensive night after a strong run of production earlier in the week.

Players Who Stood Out

Douglas Hodo III

Hodo was one of Chesapeake’s biggest spark plugs.

His June 21 performance stood out most. Hodo went 3-for-5 with two home runs, two RBIs and nine total bases in the 8-0 win over Richmond. He also created a run with his legs on June 23, singling, stealing second and eventually scoring.

Hodo’s power-speed mix gives Chesapeake energy at the top of the lineup.

Aron Estrada

Estrada had one of the best offensive games of the week June 21, going 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs.

Estrada also helped start the comeback June 23 against Harrisburg with a leadoff walk in the sixth inning. That plate appearance helped set up De Los Santos’ go-ahead three-run homer.

Estrada’s week showed both power and patience.

Anderson De Los Santos

De Los Santos delivered two huge home runs during the week.

His three-run homer June 20 helped Chesapeake jump out early in a 7-1 win over Richmond. His three-run homer June 23 gave the Baysox the lead for good against Harrisburg.

Those were two of the biggest swings of the week.

Ethan Anderson

Anderson continued to be a steady offensive presence.

He homered June 19, homered again June 20 and singled ahead of De Los Santos’ go-ahead homer June 23. Anderson’s ability to hit for power and reach base gave Chesapeake consistent production in the middle of the lineup.

Frederick Bencosme

Bencosme homered June 19 and June 20, helping Chesapeake win back-to-back games over Richmond.

Bencosme also joined Anderson and Josenberger as part of a group that combined for six of Chesapeake’s 10 hits in the June 20 victory.

Thomas Sosa

Sosa supplied a major swing June 19 with a two-run homer in the 4-2 win over Richmond.

That home run mattered because Chesapeake did not have a great night with runners in scoring position. Sosa’s power gave the Baysox enough separation to win.

Tavian Josenberger

Josenberger’s week was quieter than some of the power bats, but he still contributed.

He was part of the offensive group that helped Chesapeake win June 20 and doubled for the Baysox’s only extra-base hit June 25.

Pitchers Who Stood Out

Joseph Dzierwa

Dzierwa had the best start of the week.

The left-hander allowed one run over six innings June 20 while striking out eight and walking one. Richmond had little answer for him, and Chesapeake cruised to a 7-1 win.

Dzierwa looked like one of the more important pitching prospects in the Orioles’ system.

Juaron Watts-Brown

Watts-Brown deserved a better result June 24.

The right-hander allowed one run over six innings, struck out eight and walked only one. Chesapeake lost 3-2, but Watts-Brown’s start was a major positive.

Luis De León

De León flashed his upside June 23.

The left-hander struck out eight over five innings in a 4-2 win over Harrisburg. De León allowed two earned runs, but both came on one swing. His strikeout total showed why the Orioles remain intrigued by his arm.

Evan Yates

Yates had two starts during the week.

The first was excellent. Yates allowed one run over six innings June 19 in a 4-2 win over Richmond. The second started well before one bad inning hurt him June 25 against Harrisburg.

Even with the rough fourth inning against the Senators, Yates gave Chesapeake important innings.

Sebastian Gongora

Gongora was outstanding June 21.

The left-hander threw five scoreless innings in relief, allowed only two hits and finished the shutout. His work turned a strong game into a dominant one.

Micah Ashman

Ashman continued to look like a dependable bullpen arm.

He threw two scoreless innings June 19 and lowered his ERA to 1.73. That kind of consistency could eventually put him in position for a Triple-A look.

Rehab Assignments

Dylan Beavers

Beavers continued his rehab assignment with Chesapeake during the Richmond series.

Beavers walked twice and scored a run June 20. The box score line was not loud, but the plate discipline was encouraging. For a rehabbing hitter, seeing pitches and getting on base are important steps.

Cade Povich

Povich was sent to Chesapeake on a rehab assignment and pitched June 21.

Povich looked sharp in the shutout win over Richmond. His appearance was a major development because Baltimore needs as much pitching depth as possible.

Patrick Reilly

The Baysox sent Patrick Reilly on a rehab assignment to the FCL Orioles on June 23.

Brandon Butterworth

The Baysox sent Brandon Butterworth on a rehab assignment to the FCL Orioles on June 22.

Tyson Neighbors

The Baysox sent Tyson Neighbors on a rehab assignment to the Frederick Keys on June 21.

Transactions Since June 19

The Baysox had several notable transactions during the week.

On June 19, Chesapeake placed Daniel Lloyd on the seven-day injured list.

On June 20, catcher Johnny Tincher was assigned to Norfolk from Chesapeake.

On June 21, Baltimore sent Cade Povich to Chesapeake on a rehab assignment. Chesapeake also sent Tyson Neighbors to Frederick on a rehab assignment.

On June 22, Chesapeake sent Brandon Butterworth to the FCL Orioles on a rehab assignment.

On June 23, Chesapeake sent Patrick Reilly to the FCL Orioles on a rehab assignment. Shortstop Carter Young was assigned from Chesapeake to Norfolk. Third baseman Alfredo Velásquez was assigned to Chesapeake from Delmarva.

On June 24, Chesapeake released right-handed pitcher Jean Henriquez.

Those moves show how much roster movement continues to affect the Orioles’ minor league system. Chesapeake lost some players to Norfolk, added a new infielder from Delmarva and served as a key rehab stop for Baltimore.

Final Thoughts

The Baysox went 4-2 since June 19, and the record accurately reflects the quality of baseball they played.

Chesapeake got excellent starting pitching from Yates, Dzierwa, Povich, De León and Watts-Brown. The bullpen had several strong performances, especially from Ashman and Gongora. The offense produced timely power from Anderson, Bencosme, Sosa, De Los Santos, Hodo and Estrada.

The two losses came when the offense cooled down and late execution slipped. Still, this was a strong week for the Baysox.

For Orioles fans, the biggest takeaway is simple: Chesapeake has real talent. Dzierwa and Watts-Brown looked sharp. De León still has strikeout stuff. Povich’s rehab outing was encouraging. Beavers getting back into game action matters. Hodo, Estrada, Anderson and De Los Santos all gave the lineup impact moments.

That is exactly what a Double-A affiliate is supposed to provide: development, depth and players forcing their way into the organizational conversation.