(Waldorf, MD., Aug. 11, 2017) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (13-21) fell in a rain-shortened game against the Long Island Ducks (18-14) 8-4, being called after just one batter in the top of the ninth.
The Ducks jumped on Drew Hayes (6-6) immediately, putting up a pair of runs in the top of the first. Quinton Berry singled to start the inning, moving to second on a walk from Delta Cleary Jr. After both runners advanced on an errant pickoff move, a fielder’s choice from Marc Krauss opened the scoring, as Berry came across from third. Krauss scored on the next batter, as Angelo Songco doubled down the left field line, giving Long Island a 2-0 lead.
The scoring continued in the second, as the Ducks added four more runs to their lead. Hayes allowed a double with one out in the inning, before getting a popup for the second out. Berry returned to the plate, hitting a slow grounder to the right side on the infield, hustling all the way to beat it out for an infield single. That sparked a rally for the Ducks, as a single from Cleary scored Alfonzo. Back-to-back doubles followed, scoring Berry, Clearly, and Krauss to extend the lead to 6-0.
The Blue Crabs began the long road back in the bottom half of the inning. Michael Snyder led off with a single, advancing to third on a double from Cory Vaughn. Two batters later, Tucker Nathans, making his home debut for the team, came through with a sacrifice fly, scoring Snyder to cut the deficit to 6-1.
The Ducks struck again in the fourth, putting up another run in the inning. Audie Afenir doubled in his team debut, coming around to score on a two-out single from Krauss. The Blue Crabs responded with one of their own in the bottom half of the inning, they’re second off Rafael Perez (8-7). Perez walked the leadoff man in the inning before back-to-back singles loaded the bases with nobody out. Zach Cone grounded into a 5-4-3 double play, allowing L.J. Hoes to score. That was all the Blue Crabs would have to show in the inning, unable to fully capitalize and still trailing 7-2.
The two teams traded runs again in the sixth, with Afenir coming around again for Long Island, this time on a Cleary double. Edwin Garcia scored the run for Southern Maryland in the bottom half of the inning, crossing the plate on the third hit of the game from Vaughn. The Blue Crabs were able to add another run in the seventh, as Garcia tripled to score Ryan Wiggins to cut the lead to 8-4.
Perez was lifted from the game after allowing four runs in seven innings. Rob Rogers came out of the bullpen, allowing a hit to the first man he saw, Patrick Palmeiro. Cone singled two batters later, with both runners moving to a scoring position on a groundout to the pitcher. A two-out pop-up from Wiggins ended the rally, as the rain began to fall harder.
Cody Hebner headed out to pitch the top of the ninth, walking the only batter he saw before the game entered a rain delay. That turned out to be the last batter of the game, as the inclement weather led to the game being concluded as final, with the Ducks taking an 8-4 victory.
The Ducks set a franchise record in the game with nine doubles, also the most allowed by the Blue Crabs this season. The loss moves the Southern Maryland losing streak to five games, tying their season high.
The Blue Crabs return to action Saturday, August 12th for game three of the four-game series against the Ducks. Southern Maryland will send LHP David Russo (0-1, 4.83) to the mound, looking to snap the losing streak. He will matchup with Long Island’s RHP Jake Dunning (0-0, 1.86). First pitch in the game scheduled for 6:35 P.M. on Saturday 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.