Central Islip, NY – The Blue Crabs entered game two of the series with the Long Island Ducks looking to even things up and finish the first half on a high note. Tommy Thorpe (W, 1-2) pitched well in five innings for Southern Maryland, while the bats put up 13 hits en route to an 8-2 win.

Joe Iorio (L, 3-1), the starting pitcher for the Ducks, struggled against the Blue Crabs in tonight’s game.  Southern Maryland got the bats going in the top of the first inning as Frank Martinez ripped a one-out double into left-center field.  Two batters later, Dean Green knocked a bloop single into center, scoring Martinez.  Southern Maryland added another run in the top of the second inning when Edwin Garcia drove in a run on a single to right field, giving the Blue Crabs a 2-0 advantage.

But Long Island responded in the bottom of the third inning.  With a runner on second base, Vladimir Frias doubled to score the Ducks’ first run.  Kirk Nieuwenhuis then ripped a single into center field, scoring Frias and tying the game.

The Blue Crabs got the bats going again to start the fourth inning, when Charlie Valerio launched a solo homer to right field.  In the top of the fifth, Southern Maryland struck again. After back-to-back walks to open the frame, Dean Green hammered a double down the right field line, scoring two and increasing the Blue Crabs’ lead to 5-2.

Southern Maryland’s offense continued to thrive in the eighth inning.  The Blue Crabs started the inning with two consecutive singles. Edwin Garcia extended the Blue Crabs’ lead when he ripped a single into left field.  With the bases loaded, Joe Benson roped a single into left, scoring two runs and giving the Blue Crabs an 8-2 lead.

James Dykstra came in to pitch for the Blue Crabs in the bottom of the eighth inning.  Dykstra worked a scoreless eighth before closing the door on the Ducks in the ninth inning to give the Blue Crabs an 8-2 win.

The Blue Crabs will return home July 12th, for the series opener of a three-game set against the Lancaster Barnstormers with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch.

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