The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs earned a 2-1 victory against the High Point Rockers in an Atlantic League game on August 10, 2025, at Truist Point in High Point, North Carolina. The win improved the Blue Crabs’ record to 49-43, while the Rockers fell to 57-36. Jalen Miller pitched five innings for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs victory, allowing one run on three hits with six strikeouts. Andre Scrubb closed the game with a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save.
The Rockers took an early lead in the first inning when Ben Aklinski doubled in Luis Gonzalez, who had reached on a walk and stolen second. High Point starter Ben Wereski held the Blue Crabs scoreless through five innings, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out four. The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs victory came in the sixth inning on a two-run double by Brett Barrera, scoring Juan Digiacomo and Alejandro De Aza after they reached on a single and a walk, respectively.
Relief pitchers for the Blue Crabs maintained the lead. Daryl Thompson, Cody Thompson, and Bill McCabe combined for three scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out four. Scrubb faced three batters in the ninth, retiring them on a groundout, a flyout, and a strikeout. The game lasted two hours and 30 minutes, with 1,235 fans in attendance under sunny conditions with temperatures at 82 degrees.
Miller, the winning pitcher, threw 102 pitches, 64 for strikes, and recorded two wild pitches. His performance lowered his ERA to 3.74. Wereski took the loss after 5 1/3 innings, yielding two runs on three hits. The Rockers left eight runners on base, compared to three for the Blue Crabs. High Point managed only three hits total, with doubles from Gonzalez and Aklinski.
Barrera led the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs victory offensively, going 1-for-4 with two RBIs on his 17th double of the season. Digiacomo contributed a single and a walk, scoring one run. The Blue Crabs’ defense supported the pitchers, with catcher Luis Lin handling three stolen base attempts and first baseman Jamal Baylor recording five putouts.
The Rockers’ offense featured Gonzalez going 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, and a run scored. Aklinski added a double, an RBI, a stolen base, and a walk. Third baseman Miguel Viera and first baseman Drew Mendoza each struck out twice. High Point’s bullpen, including Will Scott, Derek Hess, and Jacob Gilbert, held the Blue Crabs hitless over the final 3 2/3 innings but could not overcome the deficit.
This Southern Maryland Blue Crabs victory marked their second win in the series against the Rockers, following a split in earlier games. On August 9, the Rockers defeated the Blue Crabs 4-2, with Mike Devine earning the win in a five-hit effort by High Point pitchers. The series highlighted strong pitching on both sides, with the Blue Crabs limiting opponents to low run totals.
Miller, a right-handed pitcher from Central Methodist University, has been a key starter for the Blue Crabs in 2025. His stats entering the game included a 3.74 ERA over multiple starts, showcasing control with a career background in independent and minor leagues. Barrera, a Stanford University product, has played multiple positions this season, batting .318 with 54 RBIs prior to this contest. His clutch double was his 17th of the year, underscoring his role in the lineup.
The Rockers, playing at Truist Point since 2019, lead the South Division with a strong record. Their pitching staff has been effective, as seen in the previous game’s shutout elements, but faltered in the sixth inning here.
This Southern Maryland Blue Crabs victory keeps them in contention within the division, where games against divisional rivals like the Rockers impact playoff positioning. The Atlantic League’s second half focuses on qualifying for the postseason, with teams vying for division titles.
