(Waldorf, MD., Aug. 25, 2017) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (20-27) won the series opener against the Sugar Land Skeeters (22-24) 8-7, on a bases-loaded walk-off hit from Devon Rodriguez.
The scoring got started early, as the Blue Crabs put up a run in the first off Jake Hale (10-5). Jose Lozada led off the bottom of the first with a double, immediately sitting in scoring position with nobody out. A groundout from Edwin Garcia moved Lozada to third, where he would score easily on a single from L.J. Hoes.
The Skeeters responded immediately though, putting up four runs in the second. Brian Grening (7-7) walked the leadoff man, Travis Scott, who moved up to second on a single from Wilfredo Rodriguez. Bryan Pounds followed the hit with a three-run homerun, grabbing the lead for the Skeeters early in the game. Josh Prince added a solo shot later in the inning, extending the lead to 4-1.
The Blue Crabs fought back however, putting up a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Cory Vaughn started it with a double, moving up to third on a single from Zach Cone. Hale then issued a walk to Patrick Palmeiro, loading the bases with still nobody out. A wild pitch allowed Vaughn to score, before a groundout from Lozada scored Cone, cutting the deficit to one run.
Both starters settled in from there, each working a pair of scoreless innings. Sugar Land was able to add a run to their lead in the fifth. Caleb Ramsey tripled with one out in the inning, before a broken bat single from Hector Olivera scored Ramsey. Two batters later, Grening allowed another single to Travis Scott, putting runners on the corners, and ending the night for the starter. Sam Runion came out of the bullpen, taking just one pitch to strand the pair and get out of the inning down just 5-3.
The Skeeters added two more in the sixth off Runion, capitalizing on an error in the inning. After a pop-out started it, Albert Cordero reached on an error at third by Palmeiro. Joe Benson followed with a single, before a groundout to the pitcher moved both runners to scoring position. Ramsey came through for Sugar Land with a two-RBI single, pushing the lead out to 7-3.
Hale continued to work out of jams on the mound for Sugar Land, giving up nine hits but just three runs through seven. He returned to the mound for the eighth though, and found trouble in the inning. After two quick outs, Michael Snyder and Rodriguez put up back-to-back hits to start a rally. After Kalaika Kahoohalahala pinch-ran for Snyder at second, Vaughn drew a walk to load the bases again. Cone then fought for a single through the right side, scoring Kahoohalahala and Vaughn. Hale was lifted from the game in favor of Manny Corpas (0-5), after throwing 129 pitches on the outing. Corpas came in and immediately allowed a double to Palmeiro, scoring both runners on base to tie the game at 7-7.
After a scoreless top of the ninth from Cody Hebner (4-1), the Blue Crabs sent the top of their lineup to the plate against Corpas in the bottom of the inning. Lozada reached on an infield hit to start the inning, advancing to second after a missed barehand effort at second base. Garcia was issued an intentional walk, before another infield single from Hoes loaded the bases with nobody out. Corpas got Kahoohalahala swinging for out number one, bringing up Rodriguez with a chance for his second walk-off of the season. After fouling off the first pitch he saw, Rodirguez came through with a hit to left field, scoring Lozada for the 8-7 walk-off win.
The Blue Crabs return to action Saturday, August 26th for a doubleheader against the Skeeters. Southern Maryland will send RHP Daryl Thompson (7-6, 3.75) to the mound for game one. He will be followed by LHP Rob Carson (3-2, 4.15) in game two. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 P.M. on Saturday 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.