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An early 10:35 a.m. start did not seem to bother the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs one bit. Behind a four-run second inning and another timely hit by hot-hitting outfielder Richard Giannotti, the Blue Crabs managed to complete the four-game sweep of their oceanic brothers to cap off a perfect home stand. The 5-4 victory in front of 4,449 fans, many of them enthusiastic school children at Regency Furniture Stadium pushed Southern Maryland’s record to 16-9 while Bridgeport fell to 10-15.

Offensively, the Blue Crabs did almost all of their damage in the second inning. Designated hitter Jermy Acey started off the inning with a single and scored on Lance Burkhart’s double into deep right field. After a strike out by Chuck Jeroloman, Octavio Martinez and Mike Just hit back-to-back RBI singles. Giannotti finished off the scoring in the second with a sacrifice fly to center.

Bridgeport, like in the previous three games, hung tough and rallied within one run (4-3) going into the bottom of the seventh inning. But Giannotti immediately pushed the Blue Crabs’ lead back to two with an opposite field home run, his first of the season. With the home run, Giannotti extended his multi-hit streak to two games and pushed his team-leading hitting streak to 10 games. Closer Jim Ed Warden also remained perfect in save opportunities, picking up his seventh save of the season.

Southern Maryland starter Ryan Bicondoa pitched effectively, allowing two earned runs on six hits in six-plus innings of work.

Former first-round pick and Major Leaguer Dan Reichert also went six innings for the Bluefish, surrendering four earned runs on six hits.

The four-games between Bridgeport and Southern Maryland were decided by a total of six runs.

Centerfielder Jeremy Owens and first baseman Eric Crozier did not play in Thursday’s game, marking the first time in 25 games this season the two did not appear on the field for the Blue Crabs.  The Blue Crabs will next be in action Friday, May 22 on the road in South Jersey, facing the Camden Riversharks for the first of a four-game series at Campbell’s Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.