(Waldorf, MD., Jun. 23, 2017) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (36-25) were victorious in game two over the Bridgeport Bluefish (34-28) 5-4, as Devon Rodriguez came through with a walk-off two-run homerun in the bottom of the 11th inning.
The day started bleak for the Blue Crabs, as Gaby Hernandez gave up a run in the top of the first inning. Back-to-back singles started the game, before a sacrifice fly from Jose Cuevas plated D’Arby Myers, opening the scoring. Southern Maryland responded in the second inning, as Zach Cone scored with the help of an error, tying the game 1-1.
The Bluefish took the lead back in the fourth, as Jose Gil doubled, scoring on a single from Jonathon Galvez. Bridgeport added another run in the fifth, as Hernandez continued to struggle on the mound. He walked Myers to get it started, before a balk moved Myers into scoring position at second. Cuevas connected on a double two batters later, scoring Myers easily, and advancing the lead to 3-1.
As they have all season long, the Blue Crabs fought back, hanging around in the game. They loaded the bases in two consecutive innings, unable to capitalize in the fourth, but picking up a run in the fifth. Jose Lozada led-off with a single, advancing to second on an Edwin Garcia walk. After a strikeout, Michael Snyder was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with just one out. Rodriguez came up big for the Blue Crabs two batters later, scoring Lozada on a two-out infield single, before a strikeout stranded the bases loaded.
Southern Maryland added another in the next inning, showing their speed in the inning. Brian Bistagne started the rally with a walk, stealing second during Lozada’s at-bat. The next pitch after the stolen base, Lozada singled to left-center, scoring Bistagne, and tying the game 3-3.
The bullpens took over the battle from there, trading scoreless innings through nine, sending the game into extra innings. The Blue Crabs were the first to threaten in extras, loading the bases in the bottom of the tenth off Bridgeport’s closer David Carpenter (1-2). Luis Alen doubled with one-out, getting the inning going. After a strikeout, Bridgeport elected to intentionally walk Lozada, before a walk to Garcia loaded the bases. Zach Wilson battled Carpenter for eight pitches, before the ninth finally got the slugger to swing and miss, stranding the bases loaded once again.
Bridgeport struck in the top of the 11th, putting up a run off Jesse Beal (5-0), in his second inning of work. Beal, who worked the 10th inning as well, allowed a ground-rule double to Daniel Fields, putting a man in scoring position with one out. After intentionally walking Andrew Lambo, a double off the glove of the third baseman from Angel Rosa scored Fields, giving the Bluefish a 4-3 lead. Beal picked up a big strikeout of Myers following the double, stranding two men in scoring position to hold the deficit to one run.
In the bottom of the 11th, Cory Vaughn got the party started with a double in the left-center field gap, standing on second as the tying run. After getting ahead in the count 3-1, Rodriguez promptly crushed a ball to deep right field, a no-doubt homerun to walk it off for the Blue Crabs.
“I was seeing that guy well, and he gave me a hitter’s count and a pitch I could hit,” said Rodriguez. “My main goal was to just keep the line moving and get on base, but there’s no better feeling than hitting a walk-off homerun, especially in a game as big as this one.”
The Blue Crabs return to action Sunday, June 25th with a 3.5 game lead in the Freedom Division. Southern Maryland will send LHP Pat McCoy (2-1, 3.48) to the mound, looking to sweep the series against Bridgeport. He will matchup with Bridgeport’s RHP Tyler Badamo (3-3, 2.79), facing Southern Maryland for the second time this season. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 P.M. on Sunday 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.
Image via Southern Maryland Blue Crabs