WALDORF, Md. – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (7-11) dropped the series finale against the Long Island Ducks (10-8) 7-4, with Long Island also taking the series two games to one.
Long Island wasted no time grabbing the lead, putting up a run in the top of the first. Jordany Valdespin singled to lead off the inning, before Casey Delgado (4-7) picked up two quick outs to nearly finish the inning. Lew Ford drew a walk to extend things, where Taylor Ard would come up with a single to score Valdespin and take the early lead.
A solo homerun from Cory Vaughn tied things up in the second, before the Ducks retook the lead with three in the third inning. Back-to-back singles started the inning, before a double from Travis Snider brought home Valdespin for his second run of the game. Emilio Bonifacio would cross as well, coming home two batters later on a groundout from Ard. David Washington would add a single, scoring Snider to go up 4-1 in the game.
Craig Maddox was cut down trying to score on a double to end the fourth, before the Blue Crabs would get a run back in the fifth. Teodoro Martinez started things with a single, moving to scoring position on a single from Devon Rodriguez. A single from Jon Griffin loaded the bases with one out, with a single from Frank Martinez bringing home Teodoro. Dennis O’Grady (4-2) came on in relief, getting a strikeout and flyout to strand the bases loaded and maintain the two-run lead.
The Ducks would add another in the seventh, with a single from Lew Ford bringing home Bonifacio. Southern Maryland would fight back once again, scoring two in the eighth. Angelo Songco got a double to lead off the inning, moving to third on a wild pitch. Cory Vaughn drew a walk behind that, with both runners coming around to score on a double from Maddox. A sacrifice bunt moved Maddox to third, but he was stranded there after a pair of groundouts ended the inning.
Long Island added some insurance to their lead in the ninth, putting up a pair of runs in the inning. Audie Afenir singled to start the frame, with pinch-runner Daniel Fields stealing second. A sacrifice bunt attempt led to a late throw to third, putting runners on the corners before Valdespin stole second to also stand in scoring position. A sacrifice fly from Bonifacio scored Fields, with Valdespin adding another on a single from Ford.
The three-run lead was handed over to the Ducks closer Francisco Rodriguez (S,17) in the bottom of the ninth, Rodriguez worked a 1-2-3 inning, picking up a pair of strikeouts en route to finishing the 7-4 victory for Long Island.
The Blue Crabs return to action Tuesday, July 31st for the series opener against the Lancaster Barnstormers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 P.M. on Tuesday 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.