(Waldorf, MD., Apr. 23, 2017) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (2-2) took game one of a Sunday doubleheader against the Long Island Ducks (2-2) 6-1 before losing the second game 3-2, to split their opening series in their 10th Anniversary Season.
Led by six strong innings from starter Daryl Thompson (1-0) the Blue Crabs were able to secure at least a series split by winning game one of the doubleheader. The Blue Crabs jumped on Ducks starter Keith Couch (0-1) putting up four runs in the second inning, with a bases-loaded single from Mike Blanke plating the first two in the inning. A sacrifice fly from Gary Brown, followed by a Danny Muno single finished the scoring that inning, and opened up a big enough lead for Thompson to pitch comfortably. “I felt like I had good control of my stuff today. I was able to command the zone and get ahead of guys, this allowed me to stick to my game plan throughout and earn a win for my team,” said Thompson.
Thompson allowed just one run, a long solo homerun by Nate Freiman in the 4th inning, his second of the series. The Blue Crabs were able to respond in the bottom half of that innings when Gary Brown to Long Island reliever Rob Rogers deep to left field, for his first homerun of the season and open up the lead to 5-1, before adding another in 5th to bring the game to 6-1, where it would finish.
The Blue Crabs sent Brian Grening to the mound in game two today with the task of getting the team a series win. Grening threw six strong innings, leaving the game knotted up at 2-2. The Blue Crabs scored two runs for him in the first, with the leadoff hitter Brown reaching on a hit-by-pitch. He then stole second allowing a Zach Wilson single to drive him in, before Cory Vaughn was able to hit a sacrifice fly later in the innings to score Wilson from third.
Grening loaded the bases against the Ducks in the second, but pitched around it allowing just one run on a Dan Lyons sacrifice fly to score Marc Krauss. In the 5th a Nolan Reimold double, followed by a Krauss single tied the game. The Blue Crabs turned the game over to closer Cody Eppley (0-1) for the seventh. He gave up a two out walk to catcher Dominic Blanco, who was pinch-run for by Fehlandt Lentini. Lentini, in his 170th consecutive regular season game, stole second and scored on a Delta Cleary Jr. single to left and putting Long Island up 3-2. Reliever Amalio Diaz (S,1) worked a scoreless bottom of the seventh to pick up his first save, and solidify the win for David Aardsma (1-0) in the second of the seven inning games.
“I’m happy with a split of the series to open the season against a tough team like Long Island,” said Blue Crabs Manager John Harris. “I think we pitched great all weekend, especially today from our starters. Our offense will continue to improve and come along as the season goes on, but this is a good way to start it off for us.”
The Blue Crabs continue their 10th Anniversary Season Tuesday, April 25th as the York Revolution come to town. The Blue Crabs will send their all-time strikeout leader Gaby Hernandez to the mound for his first start this season. He is set to face off against York’s Victor Mateo, with first pitch slated for 6:35 P.M.