(Waldorf, MD., Sep. 7, 2017) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (26-35) were victorious in both games of a doubleheader against the Somerset Patriots (28-32), taking game one 4-2, before coming from behind to win a 3-1 matchup in the second game..
The Blue Crabs got the day started early, putting up three in the first inning against Jerome Williams (2-4). Edwin Garcia singled to lead off, moving up to third on a double from Zach Cone. A walk to Jose Lozada then loaded the bases with nobody out for the cleanup hitter, Tucker Nathans. Nathans battled Williams to a full count, before the pitcher got the strikeout for the first out of the inning. Williams then issued a bases loaded walk to Devon Rodriguez, scoring Garcia for the first run in the game. Cory Vaughn and Patrick Palmeiro followed with back-to-back singles, scoring Cone and Lozada to take a 3-0 lead to the second.
Daryl Thompson (9-6) headed back to the mound with the lead, and was dominant early in the outing. The veteran allowed just two hits over his first three frames, before finding trouble in the fourth inning. Thompson allowed a single to Tony Thomas to start off the inning. Kyle Roller followed with a two-run homerun, his second of the series, cutting the lead to just one.
The Patriots bullpen pitched strong in relief, after Williams was pulled in the third inning. They worked three straight scoreless innings, before the Blue Crabs were finally able to add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Ronnie Shaban came on as the third reliever of the day, and picked up two quick outs to start his outing. However, Palmeiro was next and came through with a solo shot to left field, extending the lead out to 4-2.
Southern Maryland turned the two-run lead over to closer Cody Eppley (S,30), looking to lock down game one. Eppley worked a scoreless seventh, picking up two strikeouts along the way to finishing off the win for Thompson, his 40th career win with the Blue Crabs.
The two teams headed to the clubhouse for a quick break, before returning to the field for game two of the doubleheader. Drew Hayes got the start in the game, starting his outing with two scoreless innings. Hayes headed to the third in the scoreless game, and immediately allowed a solo homerun to Tyler Bortnick, the leadoff hitter in the inning. Bortnick’s second homerun of the season gave the Patriots a 1-0 lead early in the game.
Patrick Johnson returned to the mound for Somerset and continued to shut down the Blue Crabs offense in game two. The right-hander allowed just two hits and two walks across four innings, before exiting with the one-run lead intact. Keith Hessler came on in relief, walking Palmeiro to start the fifth inning. After picking up a strikeout, Hessler allowed a two-run homerun to Kalaika Kahoohalahala. The second homerun of the series for Kahoohalahala put the Blue Crabs ahead 2-1 heading to the sixth.
Hayes went back out to the mound working with a lead for the first time on the night. The right-hander walked the first batter he saw in the inning, before walking Roller two batters later as well. After battling for a flyout to center and the second out in the inning, Hayes issued a walk to Olmo Rosario, loading the bases with two outs. He was lifted from the game in favor of Rob Carson, who struck out Justin Trapp on three pitches to strand the three inherited runners and maintain the lead.
A sacrifice fly from Rodriguez that scored Lozada added an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning. Zack Thornton (S,2) then came on for the seventh, trying to get the save and sweep the doubleheader. Thornton picked up two outs, before a single from Carlos Guzman extended the game. The closer bounced back quickly, getting Alfredo Rodriguez to fly out as the next batter in the inning, finishing off the 3-1 victory for Southern Maryland.
The Blue Crabs return to action Friday, September 8th for the series opener of a three-game series against the Lancaster Barnstormers. Southern Maryland will send RHP Eric Fornataro (0-5, 5.51) to the mound, working with the momentum from the series win. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. on Friday at Clipper Magazine 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.