(Sugar Land, TX. May 27th 2015)—Coming off a sweep of the Lancaster Barstormers, the Blue Crabs pick up their fifth straight win, defeating the Sugar Land Skeeters in game one of a seven game series 5-3 in Sugar Land.

Southern Maryland got the scoring started in the top of the second.  With one out Gustavo Molina singled, followed by a Casey Stevenson walk.  With runners at first and second, Fred Lewis banged out a single to score Molina to make it 1-0.  Molina would start the rally again in the top of the fourth with a double.  Daryle Ward then singled to put runners at first and third.  The next hitter Casey Stevenson singled to score Molina to make it 2-0.

After the Skeeters got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, Daryle Ward homered in the top of the sixth to make it 3-1.  In the bottom of the sixth though, Delwyn Young singled to begin a rally.  After Brian Burres came out of the bullpen for Southern Maryland, Dustin Martin singled, followed by Beamer Weems getting hit by the pitch.  With the bases loaded Patrick Palmeiro grounded into a fielder’s choice to score young to make it 3-2.  Burres got out the jam though, striking out Chris Wallace, and getting Amadeo Zazueta to ground out to short.

In the top of the seventh, Casey Frawley banged out a single.  Two batters later, Renny Osuna reached base on a Skeeters error, and after Cyle Hankerd was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Gustavo Molina then walked to the plate and on a 1-2 count Gustavo singled to score Osuna, and Frawley to make it a 5-2 game.

Sugar Land attempted to make a comeback in the bottom of the ninth.  With one out Amadeo Zazueta singled to put a runner on.  After a Denny Almonte flyout, Willy Taveras singled to left to put runners at first and second.  The next hitter Travis Scott followed with a single to score Zazueta to make it 5-3.  Closer Erik Hamren would get Delwyn Young to groundout to end the ballgame.

RHP Brian Grening picked up the win, as he went five innings, allowing two runs on three hits, and striking out two.  Brian Burres, Fernando Nieve, and Justin Berg all worked scoreless innings out of the bullpen.  Gustavo Molina went three for five, and is now 10 for his last 22 in his last five games at the plate.

Game two of the seven game series is set for tomorrow evening with the first pitch set for 7:05.  RHP Jon Leicester (0-0, 2.25) will throw for Southern Maryland, while RHP Derek Blacksher (0-1, 2.16) will toss for Sugar Land.