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Waldorf, MD – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (1-0) took the first game of a four-game series against the Sugar Land Skeeters (0-1) 2-1, Monday, July 3, opening the second half of the season with a walk-off victory.
The game was a true pitcher’s duel, with each side sending an All-Star to the mound. Jake Hale got the start for Sugar Land, and ran into trouble early. He allowed a lead-off hit to Jose Lozada, but immediately picked off the runner. Back-to-back hits followed, before a double play worked Hale out of the jam.
Brian Grening (7-2) on the other side tossed another gem for the Blue Crabs. The right-hander was perfect through his first 4.1 innings, before a solo homerun from Bryan Pounds ended it. Pounds fifth homerun of the season broke the scoreless tie, putting Sugar Land ahead 1-0.
Southern Maryland responded in the bottom of the sixth, picking up a run off Hale, in what proved to be his final inning. Cory Vaughn started the rally with a one-out single, advancing to second on a balk from Hale. L.J. Hoes battled in the next at-bat, coming through with an RBI single to right field, scoring Vaughn from second and tying the game at 1-1.
Grening took over the game from there, as he allowed just two hits the rest of the way, tossing all nine innings, and setting the Blue Crabs up for a dramatic finish. Andrew Johnston (0-2) came on for Sugar Land in the ninth, and allowed a one-out single to Zach Cone. Cone advanced to second on a groundball, bringing up the number nine spot in the Southern Maryland lineup. Manager John Harris elected to call on a pinch-hitter, turning the two-out RBI situation over to Luis Alen. After battling to a full-count, Alen shot a groundball back up the middle, giving Cone enough time to slide in safely, and pick up the walk-off 2-1 victory.
“It was great to go out and go deep into the game tonight,” said Grening. “My goal was to give our bullpen as much rest as I could, and I’m happy the team was able to pick up the win and start the second half strong.”
The Blue Crabs return to action Tuesday, July 4 for the second game of a four-game series against the Skeeters. Southern Maryland will send RHP Gaby Hernandez (5-1, 3.06) to the mound, looking to build off his first Atlantic League All-Star selection. He will matchup with Sugar Land’s RHP Bobby Blevins (4-4, 4.35), facing the Blue Crabs for the third time this season. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 P.M. on Tuesday at Regency Furniture Stadium as we celebrate the Fourth of July with the Red, White, and Blue Crabs Celebration.