Baysox Bullpen Shines, But Offense Comes Up Short in Loss to Yard Goats

Chesapeake's pitching staff impresses, but Hartford holds on for 4-2 victory in series finale

Apr. 4, 2026 at 9:50pm

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The Chesapeake Baysox, the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, fell to the Hartford Yard Goats, the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, by a 4-2 final score in the Saturday series finale. Despite a strong performance from the Baysox bullpen, the offense was unable to overcome an early deficit and the Yard Goats held on for the victory.

Why it matters

The Baysox are an important part of the Orioles' minor league system, serving as a crucial development ground for the organization's top prospects. While the loss is disappointing, the strong outings from the bullpen and continued offensive production from outfielder Thomas Sosa provide reasons for optimism as the team looks to bounce back in the coming games.

The details

Baysox starter Luis De León struggled with his command early, walking the first two batters he faced in the first inning. An error on a double steal attempt led to the first Hartford run, and the Yard Goats added two more in the third and fourth innings to build a 4-0 lead. De León struck out five in his four innings of work, but the three walks he surrendered all came around to score. The Baysox bullpen was impressive, with Ryan Long, Jeisson Cabrera, and Zane Barnhart combining for four perfect innings of relief. Offensively, Thomas Sosa continued his hot start to the season, recording a two-run double in the fifth inning to pull the Baysox within two runs. But the rally was cut short, and the Baysox were unable to complete the comeback.

  • The Baysox (1-2) fell to the Yard Goats (2-1) on Saturday afternoon.
  • Baysox starter Luis De León pitched four innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks.
  • Reliever Ryan Long tossed two perfect innings with four strikeouts to open the Baysox bullpen's strong performance.
  • Outfielder Thomas Sosa recorded a two-run double in the fifth inning to pull the Baysox within 4-2.

The players

Luis De León

The Baysox's left-handed starting pitcher, who is the Orioles' no. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

Thomas Sosa

The Baysox outfielder, who continued his strong start to the season with a two-run double in the fifth inning.

Ryan Long

The Baysox right-handed reliever, who tossed two perfect innings with four strikeouts to open the bullpen's impressive outing.

Jeisson Cabrera

The Baysox right-handed reliever, who made his debut for the team with a scoreless inning that included two strikeouts.

Zane Barnhart

The Baysox right-handed reliever, who matched Cabrera's line with a scoreless inning and two strikeouts.

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What they’re saying

“The bullpen did a great job of keeping us in the game, but we just couldn't quite complete the comeback. We'll learn from this and come back stronger tomorrow.”

— Baysox Manager Buck Britton

What’s next

The Baysox will look to bounce back in the series finale against the Yard Goats on Sunday afternoon.

The takeaway

While the Baysox came up short in the series finale, the strong performances from the bullpen and continued offensive production from Thomas Sosa provide reasons for optimism as the team looks to build momentum in the coming games.