(Bridgeport, CT., Jul. 20, 2017) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (7-6) knocked off the Bridgeport Bluefish (8-6) 10-1, behind two homeruns from Patrick Palmeiro.
The Blue Crabs got the offense rolling early, putting up a run in the first inning off Rainy Lara (7-5). Back-to-back singles put two men aboard, with a Michael Snyder double scoring Edwin Garcia to start the night ahead 1-0.
Bridgeport appeared to be on the verge of a big inning in the second, loading the bases in the inning. Two singles started the rally, before a hit-by-pitch from Drew Hayes (5-3) loaded the bases with two outs. Hayes walked the next batter he faced, allowing Andrew Lambo to score tying the game. The right-hander picked up a strikeout of D’Arby Myers to end the inning, stranding the bases loaded to dance out of danger.
The Blue Crabs took the lead back in the fourth inning on a leadoff solo shot from Palmeiro. Two walks started the top of the fifth inning, before Palmeiro connected on a three-run homerun. His second homer of the game opened up a comfortable 5-1 lead for the Blue Crabs.
Hayes cruised through five innings of work, allowing just four hits to the Bluefish before being lifted with a four-run lead. The Blue Crabs loaded the bases again in the sixth inning with the help of a couple of walks from reliever Zac Grotz. Brian Bistagne came through with a bases loaded single, scoring L.J. Hoes to extend the lead to 6-1.
The offense wasn’t done yet, as Cory Vaughn jumped in on the slugfest in the seventh, crushing a three-run homerun of his own. Southern Maryland added yet another run in the eighth, as Zach Cone singled in Palmeiro, moving the lead to 10-1.
The Blue Crabs bullpen took over right where Hayes left off, with three relievers combining to allow just one hit over the final four frames. The Blue Crabs offense finished the night with 16 hits, just one shy of tying their season-high. The 10-run outburst was the first time the Blue Crabs had put up double-digit runs in a game since June 20th.
The Blue Crabs return to action Friday, July 21st, for game two of the four-game series against the Bluefish. Southern Maryland will send RHP Brian Grening (7-3, 2.95) to the mound, looking to string together back-to-back wins. He will matchup with Bridgeport’s RHP Reiner Roibal (0-0, 6.75), making his first start of the season for the Bluefish. First pitch is scheduled for 7:12 P.M. on Friday at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard.
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.