Waldorf, MD – On Monday, Aug. 28 the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (21-30) dropped the series opener against the Bridgeport Bluefish (24-28) 3-0, the third straight game the Blue Crabs have been shutout.
Bridgeport jumped on Eric Fornataro immediately, with D’Arby Myers doubling to start the top of the first. Luis Hernandez moved Myers up to third on a sacrifice bunt, setting up the middle of the Bluefish lineup. Jose Cuevas wasted no time capitalizing on the opportunity, singling to score Myers and take a 1-0 lead.
The Bluefish added another run in the third, loading the bases before Fornataro could limit the damage. Andrew Lambo started the inning with a single, before back-to-back walks loaded the bases with nobody out. Fornataro picked up two straight flyouts to come within an out of escaping unscathed. However, Luis Hernandez was able to come through for Bridgeport with a two-out single, scoring Lambo to extend the lead to 2-0. Fornataro then got another flyout to end the inning, limiting the Bluefish to just one run in the inning.
Reinier Roibal (4-2) was dominant on the other side for Bridgeport, not allowing a baserunner through his first three innings. Edwin Garcia finally broke up the perfect game bid with a single in the fourth, moving to second on a single from L.J. Hoes. Roibal recovered to get a flyout and a fielder’s choice, finishing the inning maintaining the two-run advantage.
Fornataro continued to struggle with his command, but stranded eight runners on base across five innings of work. He exited heading into the sixth, turning the 2-0 deficit over to his bullpen. Craig Stem came out of the pen first, giving up a double to the first man he saw. Angel Rosa followed the double from Ozney Guillen with a single, moving Guillen up to third. The infield hit setup a sacrifice fly from D’Arby Myers, putting Bridgeport ahead 3-0.
The offensive struggles continued, as Roibal had given up just three hits through 5.2 innings, before having to exit with an injury. Vinnie Pestano came in to relieve the starter, taking just one pitch to finish off the sixth inning. He returned to the mound for the seventh, working around a one-out double from Devon Rodriguez to work another scoreless inning.
The Blue Crabs bullpen was strong over the final three innings, allowing just one hit to the final 10 batters, trying to setup a comeback in the bottom of the ninth. However, Manny Delcarmen (S,5) had different plans. The closer worked a scoreless bottom of the ninth, with Michael Snyder the only man to reach on a dropped third strike. Delcarmen recovered to get a groundout and a strikeout, locking down the opener for Bridgeport.
The shutout is the third in a row suffered by the Blue Crabs. They are now scoreless in their last 25 innings, and haven’t hit a homerun in the last nine games.
The Blue Crabs return to action Tuesday, August 29th for the second game of the four-game series against the Bluefish. Southern Maryland will send RHP Gaby Hernandez (10-3, 2.63) to the mound, trying to snap the three-game losing streak. He will matchup with Bridgeport’s RHP Charles Brewer (8-5, 4.20). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29 at Regency Furniture Stadium.