(Waldorf, MD., Aug. 26, 2017) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (21-28) split a doubleheader against the Sugar Land Skeeters (23-25) taking game one on a walk-off sacrifice fly 3-2, before dropping the second game 3-0.
The Blue Crabs got the day started right, taking a lead in the first inning of game one. Jose Lozada led off the inning with a double, past the diving glove of the Skeeters’ first baseman. An infield single from Edwin Garcia, followed by a walk to L.J. Hoes loaded the bases with still nobody out. All-Star Michael Snyder came up in the RBI opportunity, cashing in a sacrifice fly to score Lozada and take a 1-0 lead.
After not getting a hit through the first two innings, the Skeeters were able to take the lead with two runs in the third. Joe Benson got the first hit in the inning, a leadoff double off Daryl Thompson (8-6). A sacrifice bunt moved Benson up third, where he would score on a single from Josh Prince to tie the game. Prince moved up to third on a single from Caleb Ramsey, setting up a sacrifice fly from Bryan Pounds to give Sugar Land a 2-1 lead.
The lead didn’t last long, as Southern Maryland responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Lozada got it going once again, doubling down the right field line this time to lead off. He moved up to third on a wild pitch from Brett Marshall, scoring on another wild pitch later in the inning to tie the game.
The starters each settled in from there, as Thompson and Marshall traded scoreless innings in the fourth, fifth, and sixth. The Skeeters threatened first in the seventh, as Hector Olivera doubled with one out. A flyball advanced him to third, before Thompson was able to strand him there and end the inning. The Blue Crabs did the same in the bottom of the inning, trying to rally with two outs. Tucker Nathans singled to start it, before a Luis Alen double down the left field line sent Nathans around the bases. Nathans was waved all the way, but the relay throw was in time to cut down the winning run, sending the game to extra innings.
Thompson returned to the mound for the eighth, striking out the side in order to set up the bottom half of the inning. Brian Bistagne led off the inning with an infield single, beating out a groundball in the hole at shortstop. A sacrifice bunt from Lozada moved Bistagne to second, with a Garcia single putting runners on the corners with one out. L.J. Hoes followed, battling before hitting a flyball to left field, deep enough for Bistagne to tag from third and score. The 3-2 win made it back-to-back games with walk-off victories.
After the exciting game one, both teams reset to do it again for the second game of the doubleheader. Pitching had the upper hand early in the matchup, with the teams posting just two hits combined through the first three innings. Rob Carson, getting the spot start for Southern Maryland, walked a pair of batters, but didn’t allow a hit until the fourth.
Sugar Land finally got to Carson in that fourth inning, opening up the scoring in the game. Kevin Ahrens singled with one out to get the rally going. A single from Travis Scott followed, allowing Ahrens to go first-to-third on the play. Bryan Pounds was next, chopping a groundball to third, that kicked off the glove of Patrick Palmeiro, before being fielded and thrown to first by Lozada for the out. The play allowed Ahrens to score though, giving Sugar Land a 1-0 lead in the matchup.
After the bullpen’s traded scoreless fifth innings, the Skeeters added two more runs to their lead in the sixth. Anthony Giansanti and Ahrens went back-to-back on solo homeruns off Jesse Beal, extending the lead to 3-0. Mark Haynes then worked a scoreless bottom of the inning, before turning the seventh over to veteran Felipe Paulino (S,8).
Paulino struck out the first batter in the inning looking, the 13thstrikeout of the day for the Skeeters pitching staff. The closer then forced a groundball from Devon Rodriguez to short, that was thrown away by Ahrens, putting Rodriguez on second. Paulino responded though, getting two flyouts to end the game, finishing off a shutout win the Sugar Land in the second game of the day.
The Blue Crabs return to action Sunday, August 26th for the series finale against the Skeeters. Southern Maryland will send RHP Drew Hayes (7-7, 4.32) to the mound, looking to get the series win. He will matchup with Sugar Land’s RHP Bobby Blevins (4-7, 5.40). First pitch is 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.