Regency Furniture Stadium was no place to go to escape the heat Thursday, July 5. The home team couldn’t help the situation by fanning 11 times throughout the game. In the end, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs finished on the short end of an 11 -5 contest against the Somerset Patriots in Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB). The loss dropped the Blue Crabs to 30-37. The game marked the start of the club’s final home stand prior to the start of the ALPB All-Star break.
The Patriots, now 32-25, have two links to the great New York Yankees teams of the late 1970s—their manager for the last 14 years, Sparky Lyle; and infielder Jeff Nettles, son of Yanks third baseman Graig Nettles. Nettles looked like a Bronx Bomber as he hit a third inning sacrifice fly and a sixth inning three run homer to put the game out of reach. In all, Somerset batters pounded out 12 hits against Blue Crabs pitching.
Pats’ starter Tobi Stoner pitched five innings and struck out nine batters, earning the win.
For the Blue Crabs, outfielder Brian Barton was the hitting star with a first inning home run and two singles. Outfielder Jeremy Owens belted a three-run homer in the fourth inning.
It wasn’t hot enough for some the game’s attendees, who voluntarily participated in a hot wings eating contest during the game’s middle innings.
The two teams will play two night games Friday and Saturday with fireworks shows scheduled to follow the games. The Patriots and Blue Crabs wrap up the four-game series Sunday July 8 with an afternoon game. The Saturday, July 7 game is the first of three “Southern Maryland Library Nights with the Blue Crabs. That game will start at 6:35 p.m. and the Sunday contest begins at 2:05 p.m.
The ALPB All-Star game will be played July 11 in Camden, NJ.
Visit www.somdbluecrabs.com for more information.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
