(Waldorf, MD., Jun. 19, 2017) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (32-24) were victorious on the road against the York Revolution (21-36) 7-6, behind a pair of two-run homeruns from Zach Cone.

The Blue Crabs sent Gaby Hernandez to the mound in the series opener against the Revs. Hernandez, who came in with the second-lowest ERA in the league, fell behind early in the game. Alonzo Harris was the first to reach base in the bottom of the first, walking with one out. After Harris moved up to second, Michael Burgess connected on a two-run homerun to open the scoring.

The Blue Crabs responded in the top of the second, tying the game on a two-run shot from Zach Cone. The tie didn’t last long, as Hernandez ran into more trouble in the bottom half of the inning. With one out in the inning, he walked Derrick Robinson, who advanced to second on a Luiz Cruz single. Hernandez got a groundball from the next batter, Carlos Triunfel, however, attempting to turn a double play, Brian Bistagne threw the ball away, allowing Robinson to cross the plate.

After a scoreless third, the Blue Crabs were able to take their first lead of the game in the fourth inning. Cory Vaughn led-off the inning with a single, stealing second during the next at-bat. Cone then connected on another deep fly to left, his second two-run homerun of the game, putting Southern Maryland ahead 4-3.

Hernandez lost his command in the bottom of the fifth, with the Revs putting up three in the inning. Harris started the inning with a walk, stealing second on the next batter. After picking up a strikeout, Hernandez walked three straight batters, scoring Harris to tie the game. Sam Runion came on in relief, working with the bases loaded and just one out. He allowed a sacrifice fly to Robinson, scoring Burgess to take a 5-4 lead. The Revs added another on the next batter, when Cruz singled, scoring Mitchell from second.

The Blue Crabs bounced back once again, tying the game in the top of the sixth inning. Devon Rodriguez singled to lead-off against Revs’ starter Victor Mateo. Mateo then hit Cone, before a Luis Alen single loaded the bases. After Mateo was lifted for Michael Click, Bistagne hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Rodriguez. Jose Lozada followed with a single, scoring Cone to tie the game 6-6.

After a scoreless seventh inning, the Blue Crabs loaded the bases again, this time with nobody out in the top of the eighth. After Edwin Garcia struck out for the first out, Zach Wilson came through with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Luis Alen to take a 7-6 lead.

On in relief, Zack Thornton stranded the tying run at third in the bottom of the eighth. Blue Crabs closer, Cody Eppley (S,17) came on to work the ninth. Eppley worked around a two-out single, striking out two in the inning to clinch the victory. The win advances the Blue Crabs to 31-24 on the season, now holding a two-game lead in the Freedom Division.

The Blue Crabs return to action Tuesday, June 20th for game two on the road against the York Revolution. Southern Maryland will send LHP Pat McCoy (2-1, 2.66) to the mound, in his first start returning from injury. He will matchup with York’s RHP Curtis Partch (3-4, 4.86), who defeated the Blue Crabs back on May 30th. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. on Tuesday at PeoplesBank Park.

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.