(Waldorf, MD., Aug. 31, 2017) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (23-31) dropped the series finale against the Bridgeport Bluefish (25-30) 9-8, finishing the series with a 2-2 split.
The Blue Crabs wasted no time taking the lead, putting up a run in the first off Manny Parra. After a flyout from the first batter, back-to-back singles from Edwin Garcia and L.J. Hoes put runners on the corners with one out. Michael Snyder was then hit by a pitch, loading the bases for All-Star Devon Rodriguez. Rodriguez hit a slow grounder to the hole at shortstop, as Bridgeport tried to setup a double play. The relay throw to first was late as Rodriguez hustled down the line to beat it out, allowing Garcia to cross and open the scoring in the game.
Southern Maryland added another in the third, with Rodriguez coming through once more in the inning. Parra walked Hoes as the second batter in the inning, with Hoes advancing to second on a groundball to third. Rodriguez then followed with a single, easily scoring Hoes from second. The second RBI of the game gave Daryl Thompson an insurance run, taking a 2-0 lead to the fourth.
Thompson cruised through his first four innings, allowing just two hits heading to the fifth. The right-hander ran into to trouble in the fifth, giving up the lead in the inning. He walked Gustavo Molina to start the inning, before a two-run homerun from Angelys Nina tied the game. After Thompson bounced back with a strikeout for the first out in the inning, Angel Rosa crushed a solo shot. Rosa’s second homerun of the season gave Bridgeport a 3-2 lead, there first in the game.
The lead didn’t last long for Bridgeport, as the Blue Crabs offense exploded for five runs in the bottom half of the inning. Back-to-back singles led off the inning, before two straight wild pitches from Parra allowed Hoes to score and tie the game. The infield then pinched in for the Bluefish, and Rodriguez snuck a single up the middle, scoring Snyder to take back the lead. That would end the day for Parra, but not the scoring in the inning.
After reliever Zac Grotz entered the game and picked up two outs, Southern Maryland continued their scoring in the inning. Luis Alen singled to put runners on the corner, before Brian Bistagne doubled to score Rodriguez. A single followed from Jose Lozada, scoring both Alen and Bistagne to open up a 7-3 lead.
Thompson never returned to the mound, handing over the four-run lead to his bullpen for the sixth. The pen got off to a rough start, as David Russo allowed three straight hits to score two runs immediately. After getting a fielder’s choice for the first out, Russo allowed a double to Rosa that scored Ozney Guillen, cutting the Blue Crabs lead to just 7-6.
Both offenses settled down for the seventh, before Bridgeport recaptured the lead in the eighth. After two quick outs from Zack Thornton (2-4), the Bluefish rally began. Back-to-back singles put runners on the corners, before a single from Luis Hernandez tied the game. Welington Dotel followed with another single, scoring Rosa from second to retake the lead. An intentional walk loaded the bases, before a Jonathon Galvez single sent the runners on the move. Hernandez came across to score with Dotel trying to follow, but a strong throw from Cory Vaughn in center cut him down.
Southern Maryland worked to fight back in the bottom of the eighth. Lozada reached on a bunt single, moving to second on a throwing error. A wild pitch moved him to third, before a single from Garcia allowed Lozada to cut the deficit to one. A fielder’s choice, followed by an error put Hoes on second, before he was stranded there on a flyout to deep center.
After a scoreless top of the ninth, Manny Delcarmen (S,6) came on to shut the door for Bridgeport. Delcarmen picked up two quick outs, before issuing a walk to Luis Alen. Bistagne was next, and locked into a battle to keep the game alive for Southern Maryland. He worked the count full, before a line drive on the seventh pitch was caught at first, ending the 9-8 game in favor of Bridgeport.
The Blue Crabs return to action Friday, September 1st for the series opener of a four-game series against the Sugar Land Skeeters. Southern Maryland will send RHP Drew Hayes (7-7, 4.21) to the mound, looking to start the series strong. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 P.M. on Friday at Constellation Field.
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.