(Waldorf, MD., Jun. 7, 2017) – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (24-21) won game two against the York Revolution (17-27) 3-1, with Brian Grening leading the way on the mound.
The Blue Crabs picked up an early run off Frank Gailey (5-4), with the help of a hit-by-pitch. Zach Cone took a 2-2 pitch off the foot, advancing to second on a fielder’s choice. Patrick Palmeiro came up and delivered an RBI triple, bouncing one off the wall in right field to score Cone.
The Revs looked to respond quickly, as they loaded the bases in the third with just one out. Grening (3-1) danced out of trouble, forcing a ground ball from York’s catcher, for a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. Grening settled in for a few innings, before the Revs put two more on base, after a Michael Burgess single and Isaias Tejeda double. With runner on second and third and nobody out, Grening worked his magic again, stranding the pair, the ninth baserunners he had left out there on the night.
The Blue Crabs padded their lead in the bottom of the inning, putting up a pair of runs in the inning. Cory Vaughn walked to start it, scoring on a Luis Alen two-out double two batters later. Palmeiro followed with a single to left-center field, scoring Alen from second, and putting the Blue Crabs up 3-0.
“I made some changes in the batting cages before tonight’s game to work on making sure I was out in front of pitches tonight,” said Palmeiro. “I just waited back on my pitches and was able to contribute to my team.”
The Revs fought back in the seventh, putting runners on second and third with one out. Travis Witherspoon walked with one out, advancing to third on a single from Alonzo Harris. Grening was lifted from the game, with Jesse Beal coming in to end the threat. Harris stole second on the next batter, Angel Franco, who eventually grounded out to shortstop, advancing both runners. Witherspoon scored on the play, to cut the lead to 3-1.
Zack Thornton came on to work the eighth inning, working into trouble himself, putting runners on first and second with one out. Following the lead of the pitchers before him, Thronton tight-roped out of danger, stranding the 10th and 11th runners of the night for the Revs. Cody Eppley (S,13) came in for the ninth, silencing the Revs with a 1-2-3 inning to close the win for the Blue Crabs.
The win advances the Blue Crabs to 24-21 on the season, holding steady in second place in the Freedom Division. It also solidifies at least a series victory for the team, as they will look for a sweep tomorrow in game three.
The Blue Crabs return to action Thursday, June 7th for the series finale against the Revolution. Southern Maryland will send RHP Gaby Hernandez (3-0, 2.57) to the mound, looking to clinch the team’s third sweep of the season. He will matchup up with York’s RHP Victor Mateo (1-4, 3.73), trying to end the skid for the Revs. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 P.M. on Thursday 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.