Waldorf, MD – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (5-5) dropped the series opener against the York Revolution (6-5) 6-5, Monday, July 17 as the Revolution rallied in the ninth to force extras, eventually winning in 11 innings.
The starting pitchers battled through three, trading scoreless innings. The Revolution opened the scoring in the fourth, getting to Daryl Thompson for three runs in the inning. Back-to-back singles started the inning, before Thompson recorded two outs. Luis Cruz followed with a three-run homerun, putting the Revolution ahead early.
The Blue Crabs responded immediately, putting up a trio of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Michael Snyder started it with a one-out single, with an error and a walk following to load the bases. Luis Alen came through with an RBI single, scoring Snyder and Cory Vaughn to cut the lead to one. Patrick Palmeiro was next, seeing ten pitches in his at-bat before finally grounding out to second, but scoring L.J. Hoes from third, tying the game at 3-3.
Pitching took over from there, as both teams went scoreless through the next three frames. The Blue Crabs were able to scratch across a run in the bottom of the eighth, with the help of an error. Snyder got the rally going once again, reaching on a throwing error by the third baseman. Hoes came through two batters later, singling to right field, scoring Snyder from second to take a 4-3 lead.
Southern Maryland then turned to closer Cody Eppley (BS,1), looking to lock down the win. Eppley picked up the first out, before walking Alonzo Harris, who advanced to third on a single from Alexi Casilla. Isaias Tejeda followed with a long single off the left-field wall, scoring both runners and putting the Revs back ahead 5-4.
York turned the bottom of the ninth to their own All-Star closer, Brad Allen. Allen picked up two quick outs, before back-to-back doubles from Zach Cone and Edwin Garcia tied the game at 5-5. After stranding Garcia, the game headed to extra innings, the second time the Blue Crabs have played extras this week.
A scoreless 10th inning set-up the 2-3-4 hitters in the York lineup to face Jesse Beal (5-2) in the 11th inning. Casilla led-off with a single, coming all the way around from first to score on a double from Tejeda and take the lead back for the Revs. York turned their newfound 6-5 lead over to Joe Van Meter (S,1) in the bottom of the inning. Van Meter worked a 1-2-3 inning, picking up his first save of the season for the Revolution. The win moved York ahead of Southern Maryland in the standings, now holding a 0.5 game lead over the Blue Crabs in the second-half Freedom Division standings.
The Blue Crabs return to action Tuesday, July 18 for the second game of the three-game series against the Revolution. Southern Maryland will send RHP Gaby Hernandez (6-1, 2.91) to the mound, looking to even the series. He will matchup with York’s LHP Logan Williamson (3-5, 4.84), facing the Blue Crabs for the third time this season. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 P.M. on Tuesday at Regency Furniture Stadium.