The Blue Crabs tied their season long winning streak at seven games with a 6-4 victory over the Long Island Ducks Saturday, July 24 before 4,673 fans at Regency Furniture Stadium.
First baseman Eric Crozier also extended his hitting streak to 13 games, going 2-for-4 with a ground rule double. RHP Chris Mobley was terrific in a spot start out of the Crabs’ bullpen, holding the Ducks scoreless in four innings of work. RHP Joe Newby (3-2) entered in the fifth and earned the win, pitching three shutout innings.
Leftfielder Shaun Cumberland broke the game open for the Crabs in the fourth with a three run homer to left-centerfield. It was Cumberland’s fifth dinger of the season, and third of this series. Those were the only three runs Ducks RHP Jake Dittler (8-7) allowed, but he suffered the loss. The Blue Crabs then took a 5-0 lead in the seventh against Ducks RHP Bill Simas. With pinch runner Jamar Hill at third and Crozier at first, shortstop Travis Garcia blasted a two RBI double to the centerfield wall. The Ducks scored their first run in the eighth on an RBI single by rightfielder Dustan Mohr. Then in the bottom of the inning, catcher Christian Lopez made it 6-1 with a solo homer, his fifth of the year. The Ducks mounted a furious comeback in the ninth, scoring three runs on five hits, but it was too little too late.
Southern Maryland’s 53-33 overall record is the best in the Atlantic League, and their 20 games over .500 is also a season high. The Blue Crabs will go for a sweep of the Ducks when they return to action Sunday evening at Regency Furniture Stadium for the finale of this four-game series. LHP Craig Anderson (6-1, 3.25) will take the mound for Southern Maryland opposite fellow southpaw Daryl Harang (1-0, 4.22). First pitch is set for 5:05 p.m.