AtL Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

Bears top Blue Crabs, 4-3

Published on May 9, 2009 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs News Release


The Blue Crabs fought valiantly, but dropped a 4-3 thriller to the Newark Bears on Friday night at Regency Furniture Stadium. Newark, a team rife with former MLB stars, used former Boston Red Sox closer Keith Foulke to save it in the ninth, after breaking a 3-3 tie in the top half of the last inning on a Gerard Haran home run to left field.

The Blue Crabs will next be in action Saturday evening at home at Regency Furniture Stadium against Newark for the second game of this three game series, and six game homestand. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m., and the stadium gates will open at 5:30 p.m. Scheduled starters are right-hander Kenny Baugh (0-0, 6.23) for Southern Maryland, and righty Oneli Perez (1-1, 3.52) for Newark.

As for Friday's game...

Two Blue Crabs errors by Travis Garcia (SS) and Patrick Osborn (3B) pushed an un-earned run across in the top of the first inning for Newark, but Osborn would atone for the mistake. Osborn tied the game with an RBI double in the bottom of the first, scoring Mike Just after he reached base on a hit by pitch. The game would then be scoreless for the next five innings, before both clubs dipped into the bullpens and scored two runs each in the seventh.

Both starters were superb for the Bears and the Crabs on Friday, and both were left with no-decisions. Southern Maryland right-hander Kenny Rayborn went six and a third innings, allowing just four hits, one earned run while striking out six and walking none. Rayborn also picked off Bobby Hill of Newark off second base after hitting Hill (Rayborn's only hit batter of the game), and after Hill stole second. His counterpart, righty Edgar Martinez for Newark, went six innings himself, surrendering just three hits and an earned run (the Osborn RBI double), walking two and striking out one.

After an RBI single by Kevin Thompson and a bases loaded RBI walk by Jay Gibbons gave Newark a 3-1 lead in the top of the seventh, the Blue Crabs quickly responded with two runs of their own, as each bullpen did not fare as well as the starters. Mike Just tied the game for the Crabs with an RBI after he reached on an error by the Bears Anthony Manuel at second base.

With Mike James on the mound for Southern Maryland in the ninth however, an exciting back and forth affair ended in dramatic fashion with Newark as the victor. The first batter of the inning was Gerard Haran, who crushed a long home run to the Red, Hot & Blue Picnic Pavilion in left field at Regency Furniture Stadium, making the score 4-3. That was all the support Foulke would need, as he did allow an infield single to third base to Richard Giannotti in the ninth, but Giannotti would be the only batter to reach in the inning for the Crabs, as Foulke struck two out to earn the save. Foulke has been quite the workhorse in a lot of close games for Newark, as this was already his seventh save of the young season, in just 13 games and nine Newark victories.

Right-handed submariner Kevin Gunter (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Newark, pitching one and two thirds scoreless innings allowing just two hits. Mike James was the hard-luck loser for the Blue Crabs, after giving up the homer to Haran, despite an otherwise strong one and a third innings of relief.

In addition to former Baltimore Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons and Foulke, other notable Major League veterans on the field Friday night for Newark included designated hitter Carl Everett and shortstop Abraham Nunez. Outfielder Michael Tucker, infielder Rob Mackowiak and pitcher Shaun Chacon are just a few of the other familiar for Major Leaguers that play for Newark, but did not appear in Friday's game.

Check out the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Atlantic League Stories from May 9, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central