Sugar Land, Texas – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (17-29) won the series finale against the Sugar Land Skeeters (32-15) 2-0, snapping an eight-game losing streak.
A scoreless first started the night, before the Blue Crabs opened the scoring in the second. Devon Rodriguez singled to lead off the inning but was replaced at first by Frank Martinez on a fielder’s choice. Dallas Beeler (7-2) picked up a strikeout for the second out of the inning, before Cory Vaughn launched a two-run homerun to give Southern Maryland an early 2-0 lead.
Pitching took center stage after that, as Beeler settled into a battle with his former teammate Brett Marshall (5-8). Marshall allowed runners to reach scoring position in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, but a pair of key double plays and a successful pickoff got him out of the innings with the shutout intact.
Beeler was lifted after five innings, with Marshall lasting one more before his bullpen took over as well. Neither team could get anything going off the relievers, with no runners reaching further than first base in the seventh or the eighth, holding steady at 2-0.
In the bottom of the ninth, Southern Maryland sent their closer Cody Eppley (S,14) to the mound to finish the game. Eppley got three straight groundouts to finish off the 2-0 shutout victory, and end the season-high losing streak.
The Blue Crabs return to action Friday, August 31st for the series opener against the Road Warriors. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 P.M. on Friday 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.