(Waldorf, MD., Aug. 1, 2017) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (10-15) dropped game two against the Bridgeport Bluefish (13-11) 6-2, on six unanswered runs from the Bluefish.
The Blue Crabs got on the board first, jumping on Charles Brewer (7-4) for a pair of runs in the first inning. Jose Lozada started the inning with a single, moving up to third on a single from Edwin Garcia. A sacrifice fly scored Lozada from third, allowing Garcia to advance to second on the throw to the plate. Two batters later, L.J. Hoes singled up the middle, scoring Garcia from second, and giving the Blue Crabs an early 2-0 lead.
Brian Grening returned to the mound with a lead in the second, allowing a leadoff double to Sean Burroughs. Burroughs was tagged out trying to move up to third on a fielder’s choice from Jose Gil. A double from Daniel Fields allowed Gil to score from first, cutting the lead to just one run. Grening was struck by a line drive from the next batter, recovering to record the out, but having to be removed from the game in favor of Sam Runion (1-2).
Runion worked out of the second, before allowing the tying run to cross in the third inning. D’Arby Myers got the inning going on a ground-rule double with one out, before Luis Hernandez walked behind him. Burroughs came back up with two outs, coming through with a single to score Myers from second, tying the game at 2-2.
Bridgeport took the lead in the ballgame in the next inning, plating a pair of runs off Runion. Fields started the rally with a double, coming around to score on a one-out single from Tony Abreu. Abreu advanced to second on a wild pitch, setting up an RBI single from Welington Dotel.
Brewer remained dominate on the other side, retiring 12 of the final 13 batters he faced in the game, exiting the game after six innings of work. For the Blue Crabs, Craig Stem came on in relief after Runion, doing his part to fill the void left by Grening’s early exit. Stem worked three scoreless innings, before the Bluefish finally put up a run off the right-hander in the eighth inning. Gustavo Molina singled to lead off, moving to second on a wild pitch. Jonathon Galvez followed with a single, scoring Molina to extend the lead to 5-2.
Bridgeport added an insurance run in the top of the ninth off Rob Carson. Myers and Hernandez connected on back-to-back doubles, pushing the lead to 6-2. Manny Delcarmen came out of the bullpen, and kept the momentum up for the Bluefish, working a 1-2-3 inning to finish it. Bridgeport retired 21 of the last 22 batters in the game, not allowing a hit after the second inning.
The Blue Crabs return to Wednesday, August 2nd for the series finale of the three-game series against the Bluefish. Southern Maryland will send LHP David Russo (0-1, 5.70) to the mound, looking to pick up a win in the series. He will matchup with Bridgeport’s RHP Ross Seaton (0-0, 10.80), making his second start of the season. First pitch in the game scheduled for 11:05 A.M. on Wednesday 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.