(Lancaster, PA., Aug. 23, 2017) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (18-27) split a doubleheader against the Lancaster Barnstormers (26-20), taking game one 5-3 in extras, before dropping game two on a Barnstormers walk-off.
The starting pitchers were dominant through the first three innings of game one, allowing just one combined hit. After a scoreless top of the fourth from Joe Gardner, the Barnstormers were able to open the scoring in the bottom half of the inning. Trayvon Robinson singled to start the inning, scoring from first on a double from Nate Coronado. David Russo then allowed a single to Cole Garner, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. Back-to-back outs followed, but the latter was a sacrifice fly from Garrett Weber that scored Coronado to extend the lead. Two more singles followed, with Josh Bell driving in Cole Garner to put Lancaster ahead 3-0.
Southern Maryland fought back, putting up a run in the fifth. Cory Vaughn singled with one out, stealing second and advancing to third during Zach Cone’s groundout. After a walk, an error at shortstop off the bat of Ryan Wiggins allowed Vaughn to open the scoring for Southern Maryland.
The Blue Crabs put up two more in the sixth, tying the game at 3-3. Tucker Nathans led off the inning with a single, moving up on a Michael Snyder single two batters later. Devon Rodriguez followed with a walk, loading the bases with one out for Vaughn. The All-Star came through with a two-RBI single, scoring Nathans and Snyder to tie it up.
After a scoreless seventh from John Kuchno and Sam Runion (3-2), the game headed to extra innings. Daniel Moskos (5-2) came out of the bullpen for the Barnstormers to face the heart of the Blue Crabs lineup in the eighth. Snyder singled to start, with Rodriguez reaching on a hit-by-pitch behind him. A wild pitch advanced both runners, setting up a sacrifice fly from Vaughn to take the lead. A double from Palmeiro two batters later scored Rodriguez, giving the Blue Crabs a 5-3 lead. Cody Eppley (S,28) came on for the ninth, striking out two in a 1-2-3 inning to lock down game one.
The Blue Crabs turned game two over to Craig Stem (3-2), looking to sweep the doubleheader. After a scoreless first, Southern Maryland grabbed an early lead with a run in the second. Snyder got the rally started with a leadoff double. Jarret Leverett got back-to-back outs after that, before a two-out single from Luis Alen opened the scoring.
Lancaster responded in the bottom of the third, with a solo homerun from Beau Amaral tying the game at 1-1. The Blue Crabs snatched the lead right back, putting up another run in the top of the fourth. Snyder got it started once again, this time reaching second on an error by the Barnstormers left-fielder. A single from Rodriguez moved him up to third, where Vaughn would get him across on a sacrifice fly, taking back the one-run lead.
Stem was strong across the next two innings, not allowing a hit through the fourth and fifth. Southern Maryland added two more runs in the sixth, extending the lead to three runs. L.J. Hoes led off with a single, stealing second and advancing to third two batters later. Vaughn followed with a double to score him, before a single from Alen scored Vaughn. Alen’s second RBI of the game gave the Blue Crabs a 4-1 lead, which they turned over to the bullpen to get the last six outs.
Cody Hebner was first to relieve Stem, who allowed just three hits over his five innings of work. Hebner picked up two strikeouts in a scoreless sixth, turning the seventh over to Zack Thornton for his first save opportunity of the season. Three straight singles from the Barnstormers loaded the bases with nobody out, as they worked to mount a late comeback. A sacrifice fly from Bell scored a run, before a walk to Tyler Clark loaded the bases once more. A single from pinch-hitter Anderson De La Rosa scored Steve Clevenger, cutting the lead to one run. After a fielder’s choice picked up the second out, an error at shortstop from Jose Lozada off the bat of Weber allowed Clark to score. Garner then followed with a single to deep left field, scoring De La Rosa for the walk-off win.
The Blue Crabs return to action Thursday, August 24th for the finale against the Barnstormers. Southern Maryland will send RHP Gaby Hernandez (9-3, 2.82) to the mound, looking to earn a split in the series. He will matchup with Lancaster’s LHP Luis Gonzalez (0-0, 7.26) First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. on Thursday at Clipper Magazine Stadium.
For more information on the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, or to reserve your seat today for any of the Blue Crabs upcoming home games, please visit our website at somdbluecrabs.com or call us at 301-638-9788.