(Waldorf, MD., Jul. 29, 2017) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (9-13) split a doubleheader against the Lancaster Barnstormers (14-8), dropping game one 5-4, before responding with a 2-1 victory in game two.
Daryl Thompson (5-6) got the start in game one, and was strong through his first two innings of work. The veteran right-hander ran into trouble in the third, allowing a pair of runs in the inning. Anderson De La Rosa walked to leadoff, advancing to second on a bunt single from Rico Noel. After a sacrifice from Trayvon Robinson moved up both runners, a two-out ground-rule double from Cole Garner scored both runners.
The Barnstormers added three more in the fifth inning, extending their lead to 5-0 over Thompson. Back-to-back doubles started the inning, with Robinson driving in Noel to start the scoring. Two batters later, Garner connected on a two-run homerun, his third of the season, further bolstering the Lancaster lead.
The Blue Crabs began the road back in the bottom of the fifth, putting up their first run off Brad Bergesen (7-6). Jose Lozada singled to start the rally, before coming around to score on a two-out double from L.J. Hoes. Hoes was picked off second by the catcher during Michael Snyder’s at-bat, cutting the rally short.
After a scoreless sixth, Southern Maryland looked to mount a rally in the bottom of the seventh. Patrick Palmeiro doubled to start the inning, scoring on a Lozada double. A single from Edwin Garcia led to a rundown, which Lozada escaped at third, with Garcia advancing to second on the play. Bergesen was removed in favor of closer Anthony Carter (S,20), with the tying run at the plate in the form of Hoes. He came through with a sacrifice fly, scoring Lozada and advancing Garcia. A groundball out from Snyder scored Garcia, cutting the lead to 5-4, before Carter finally escaped the jam, shutting the door on game one of the doubleheader.
The Blue Crabs got on the board first in game two, as Snyder connected on a solo home run to lead off the second inning. That gave Gaby Hernandez (8-1) the lead he needed to find a rhythm on the mound. Hernandez picked up four strikeouts and allowed just two hits through his first three innings of work.
Lancaster finally got to Hernandez in the fourth, as Sean Halton’s 18th home run of the season tied the game at 1-1. Southern Maryland responded quickly though, as Snyder came through with another solo shot, this time to center field. Snyder’s sixth multi-home run game of the season gave Hernandez his one-run advantage back heading to the fifth.
Hernandez cruised to a 1-2-3 fifth inning, before working into a jam in the sixth. A two-out single to Steve Clevenger, followed by a hit-by-pitch, put the tying run on second. After a visit to the mound from pitching coach James Frisbie, Hernandez took just one pitch to retire Halton, ending the inning.
Southern Maryland turned the seventh over to closer Cody Eppley (S,25). Eppley worked around a one-out walk, locking down the 2-1 win for the Blue Crabs. The win snapped a season-long five game losing streak for the team.
The Blue Crabs return to Sunday, July 30th for the series finale against the Lancaster Barnstormers. Southern Maryland will send RHP Drew Hayes (5-4, 3.89) to the mound, looking to clinch the series win. He will matchup with Lancaster’s RHP Bryan Evans (6-3, 5.05), facing the Blue Crabs for the third time this season. First pitch in the game scheduled for 2:05 P.M. on Sunday at Regency Furniture 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.