(Waldorf, MD., Jul. 20, 2018) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (5-5) dropped the series opener against the Lancaster Barnstormers (5-6) 3-2, with the Barnstormers rallying for all three of their runs in the seventh inning.
The Blue Crabs wasted no time grabbing the lead on the night, putting up a run in the bottom of the first. Teodoro Martinez led off the inning with a single, but he was caught stealing for the first out in the inning. Edwin Garcia added a single after the caught stealing, moving around to third on a single from Frank Martinez. Jon Griffin would lift a flyball to center after that, doing just enough to bring home Garcia and open the scoring on the night.
The offense would keep things going in the second, adding another to their lead. After a groundout started the frame, Brooks Hall (7-2) issued a walk to Cory Vaughn. The hit-and-run was on after that, as Craig Maddox singled through the right side of the infield to move Vaughn around to third. After a strikeout put two down in the inning, a wild pitch allowed Vaughn to come home and grab a 2-0 lead.
Drake Britton was solid on the night for Southern Maryland in his 12th start of the season. The southpaw worked five strong innings on the mound, allowing just four hits on his night. Britton was lifted from the game after the fifth, handing the two-run advantage over to his bullpen to go the rest of the night.
After a scoreless sixth, the Barnstormers came alive in the seventh to take their first lead on the night. K.C. Hobson led off with a single, moving up to second when a walk was issued to Josh Bell. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners to scoring position, setting up a two-RBI single from Vladimir Frias that would tie the game. A walk and a hit-by-pitch followed, loading the bases with still just one out in the inning for Blake Gailen. The powerful left-hander hit a flyball to center field, deep enough to allow Frias to tag up from third and give Lancaster a 3-2 lead.
The Blue Crabs looked to respond right away, as Angelys Nina led off the bottom half of the inning with a double. A sacrifice bunt attempt from Teodoro Martinez led to a fielder’s choice when Nina was safe at third, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. A safety squeeze attempted ensued, but the bunt from Garcia didn’t get far enough from the plate and Nina was tagged out trying to score. A flyout and a strikeout followed, allowing the Barnstormers to escape with the one run lead still intact.
A scoreless eighth sent things to the ninth, where Lancaster brought on their closer Matt Reynolds (S,18). The left-hander got two quick groundouts to start the inning, before an infield single from Teodoro Martinez extended the game. Reynolds bounced back to get a groundout from Garcia, ending the game at giving the Barnstormers the opener by a score of 3-2.
The Blue Crabs return to action Saturday, July 21st for the second matchup in the three-game series against the Barnstormers. First pitch is 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.
About the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
The Blue Crabs play 126 regular season games in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs. The Blue Crabs play at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland with affordable family fun. The franchise will begin its 11th season in April 2018. Please call 301-638-9788 or visit http://www.somdbluecrabs.com for more information.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 38 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment.
For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.