Bridgeport, CT – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (7-8) dropped game three against the Bridgeport Bluefish (10-6) 6-3, Saturday, July 22 with a six-run third inning doing the damage.
Southern Maryland grabbed the lead immediately, putting up a run in the top of the first. Zach Cone led the game off with a double, with Edwin Garcia reaching base behind him as well. Zach Wilson followed with a single, with Cone coming around from second to open the scoring.
After sitting down the first six batters he faced, Daryl Thompson (5-5) found trouble in the bottom of the third. The first three batters reached base to start the inning, loading the bases with nobody out. D’Arby Myers came through with a ground-rule double, putting Bridgeport ahead. Two more singles followed, scoring Angel Rosa and Myers, before an out was finally recorded on a fielder’s choice from Daniel Fields. However, the out did allow another run to cross the plate, opening the Bluefish lead even more. The big inning was over yet though, as another ground-rule double and a single allowed Fields to score, putting the Bluefish ahead 6-1.
Charles Brewer (6-3) cruised through the next few innings, before the Blue Crabs threatened in the fifth. Patrick Palmeiro led-off with a ground-rule double, advancing to third on a Cone single with one out. Garcia followed with a single of his own, scoring Palmeiro to cut the led to 6-2. After another out was recorded, Michael Snyder drew a walk, loading the bases and bringing the tying run to the plate. Cory Vaughn took the first pitch to get ahead in the count, before flying out to center field, ending the threat in the inning.
Pitching took over the game from there, as the Blue Crabs offense was unable to get anything going in the next couple of innings. Brewer allowed just two hits in his final two innings, leaving after the seventh with a four-run lead. After a scoreless eighth from both sides, the Bluefish sent Manny Delcarmen in to shut the door.
Delcarmen struggled in the inning however, giving up a lead-off single to Palmeiro, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. He scored the next play on a Brian Bistagne single, giving the Blue Crabs life in the game. Cone’s third hit of the game brought the tying run to the plate, in the form of Garcia. Garcia battled in a six-pitch at-bat, before rolling into a double play. Wilson then flew out to center, ending the game with a 6-3 Bridgeport win.
The Blue Crabs return to action Sunday, July 23rd, for the finale of the four-game series against the Bluefish. Southern Maryland will send RHP Gaby Hernandez (7-1, 2.82) to the mound, trying to split the series. He will matchup with Bridgeport’s RHP Mike Aquilino (0-0, 1.80), making just his second start of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 1:12 P.M. on Sunday at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard.