(Waldorf, MD., Jul. 30, 2017) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (9-14) dropped the series finale against the Lancaster Barnstormers (15-8) 4-2, .
Drew Hayes started the game strong for the Blue Crabs, now allowing a hit through his first three innings of work. The right-hander finally ran into trouble in the fourth, with the Barnstormers opening the scoring in the inning. Hayes issued back-to-back walks to start the inning, before a bunt single loaded the bases with nobody out. Sean Halton followed with a grand slam, his second homerun of the series. Halton’s third grand slam of the season put the Barnstormers ahead 4-0.
Southern Maryland responded quickly, putting up a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Edwin Garcia started the inning with a single, before two batters later Michael Snyder connected on a two-run homerun to left field. Snyder’s third homerun of the series cut the lead in half, with the Blue Crabs trailing just 4-2.
Hayes settled down after the rough fourth inning, retiring nine of the last 10 batters he faced, before exiting the game, still trailing by two runs. The Barnstormers bullpen continued strong on the other side, working three straight 1-2-3 innings from the fifth inning through the seventh.
After a scoreless eighth, Lancaster turned the bottom of the ninth over to their closer Anthony Carter (S,21). Garcia singled once again to start the inning, his third hit of the game. He moved up to second on a groundout, with a Snyder walk bringing the winning run to the plate. Cory Vaughn hit a weak flyball to shallow right field, which got down just in front of the right-fielder Sean Halton. The baserunners, thinking the ball was caught in the air, both held at first and second. The ball then got fired to third base, where Garcia was tagged out, then thrown back to second, where Snyder was forced out as well, ending the game.
These two teams will matchup again on August 14th in the First-Half Freedom Division Championship Game. The game will decide the division winner of the first half, as well as one of the teams clinching a berth in the 2017 Atlantic League Playoffs.
The Blue Crabs return to Monday, July 31st for the series opener against the Bridgeport Bluefish. Southern Maryland will send RHP Eric Fornataro (0-1, 9.00) to the mound, making his home debut for the team. He will matchup with Bridgeport’s RHP Reinier Roibal (1-0, 3.08), facing the Blue Crabs for the second time this season. First pitch in the game scheduled for 6:35 P.M. on Monday 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.