The Blue Crabs returned from the All-Star Break and opened up a four-game series against the Barnstormers Thursday night. Joe Gannon got the start for Southern Maryland against Lancaster’s Eric Junge.
Lancaster (28-28) stormed into the lead in the top of the first. Lloyd Turner hit a single to left field and then stole second to put himself in scoring position. Jed Morris hit a single later in the inning to score Turner and give the Barnstormers the lead.
While one run was not enough for Junge, it was plenty of a lead to start the game. Junge dominated the Blue Crabs (33-23), putting on a clinic with 12 strikeouts to set a new season high for a pitcher against Southern Maryland.
In the seventh inning, Barnstormers’ Ryan Mulhern hit a two-run home run against Gannon over the tall left-field wall to add more insurance for Junge.
Junge allowed only 3 hits in the first 6 innings. In the bottom of the seventh inning, James Shanks led off the inning with a triple. He then scored on a Richard Giannotti single to put the Blue Crabs in the run column.
Against four pitchers from the Blue Crabs’ bullpen, the Barnstormers just added insult to injury, putting up 7 runs in the top of the eighth inning.
The Blue Crabs put up 4 runs in the bottom of the eighth inning but failed to make any more of a comeback, falling 10-5.
Junge (4-1) picked up the win and finished with 7 innings pitched, giving up one run, allowing 5 hits and only 1 walk.
Gannon (5-7) picked up the loss and finished with 7 innings pitched, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits.