AtL Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

Blue Crabs lose to Patriots

Published on April 26, 2013 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs News Release


WALDORF, Md. - The Somerset Patriots defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 8-5 in a 10th inning rally tonight in front of a season-high 5,312 fans at Regency Furniture Stadium. Blue Crabs pitcher Tommy Mendoza blew a 5-5 tie in extra innings allowing four hits and three runs in one inning. With the loss Southern Maryland falls to 3-6 in the Liberty Division, while the Patriots improve to 5-4 in the Freedom Division.

Jeremy Owens led the way for the Blue Crabs tonight going 2-for-5 and tallying his first multi-hit game of the season. Batting leadoff, player/coach Owens began the game with a home run, which gave Southern Maryland the lead through the top of the third inning. Owens would notch another hit in the ninth, as the Blue Crabs tried to come up with a late inning rally, but fell short with bases loaded. Catcher Jose Salas added two RBIs in the bottom of the third, giving the Blue Crabs the go-ahead run once again, while Brian Barton and Ryan Mulhern also contributed an RBI each.

The Patriots Jake Fox and Luis Montanez were both factors in the 10thinning rally for Somerset. First basemen Fox went 2-for-5 with two runs and an RBI, as he scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th for the 6-5 lead. Left fielder Montanez would single, scoring Fox in the tenth and went 2-for-4 with one run and two RBIs. Former Blue Crab Yunesky Sanchez also had two hits and two RBIs as seven players on the Patriots recorded multi-hit games.

LHP Logan Williamson made his first start for the Blue Crabs tonight, pitching a four-hitter through three innings with three strikeouts. Six different relief pitchers finished the game for Southern Maryland accounting for seven additional runs and the loss.

For the Patriots Graham Taylor made his second start of the year, going six innings with four runs on five hits and striking out four. Somerset's relief then came in and through a three-hitter through the next four innings, eventually earning the win for the Patriots.

Williamson began the first inning looking comfortable as a starter and striking out the first two batters he faced. Former Blue Crab Sanchez, who's started out the season with an Atlantic League-best 12 RBIs and boasting a .370 average, would then single to shortstop for the first hit of the game. Williamson would quickly redeem himself though, as Sanchez was caught stealing to send the Patriots on the field to face Southern Maryland's lineup.

Southern Maryland would then put a tally on the board first as center fielder Jeremy Owens belted his first home run of the season just four pitches in the bottom of the inning. Two consecutive batters would be retired next, before another two reached base. Designated hitter Cesar Nicolas singled and left fielder Cyle Hankerd took a hit from Somerset pitcher Taylor. With first baseman Mulhern coming to the batter's box next it seemed as if there may be a chance for the Blue Crabs to add more runs, however Mulhern would fly out for the third out of the inning.

Both teams would be unable to score in the second inning, but not before a single by the Patriots right fielder Mike Wilson, which was matched by a single from the Blue Crabs second baseman Wladimir Sutil, as the score remained 1-0 in favor of Southern Maryland.

In the third, Somerset's shortstop Bobby Stevens would hit a double for the patriots with one out and second baseman Jonny Tucker followed with a single to center field, scoring Stevens. Lucky for Williamson though, Patriots center fielder Aharon Eggleston would hit into a double play for the second and third out in the top of the third inning as the Somerset evened things at one.

The Blue Crabs would then add three more in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead. Right fielder Barton would walk, followed by Nicolas being hit by a pitch. Two batters later Mulhern would again step to the plate, redeeming his first out by doubling to left field and scoring Barton for his team-leading sixth RBI of the season and a 2-1 score. Following Mulhern, third baseman Brandon Jones would walk and then Jose Salas would single to center field, scoring Jones and Mulhern as the Blue Crabs took a 4-1 lead at the end of three.

The top of the fourth inning brought a pitching change for Southern Maryland as newly re-activated RHP Deinys Suarez began the inning. The only offense for the Patriots came from first baseman Jake Fox who'd hit a solo home run, making the score 4-2.

Somerset would strike again in the next inning after Suarez retired the first batter he faced. Catcher James Skelton would then double and Stevens would follow with a single. Two batters later Suarez would walk Eggleston to load the bases for the Patriots. Somerset's MVP Sanchez would strike again, doubling and scoring Skelton and Stevens leaving the top of the fifth locked at four.

Southern Maryland would look to the bullpen again in the beginning of the sixth inning as RHP Jeff Stevens took the mound for the Blue Crabs. Despite the first batter singling to start the inning, Stevens managed to get out of the frame without a tally on the board. The Patriots would answer back by retiring three batters in a row in the bottom of the inning.

Somerset pitcher Taylor would step down from the mound after six innings and be replaced in favor of RHP Paul Phillips. Owens would lead off the inning again for the Blue Crabs and hit to center field, but come up just short of another home run as Eggleston caught the ball for the first out. Shortstop Renny Osuna then extended his hitting streak to three games by singling to first, followed by Barton doubling to deep center field, also just short of a home run. The double would score Osuna and give the Blue Crabs a 5-4 lead.

The Patriots would not let the Blue Crabs hold on to the lead for long as they answered right back in the top of the eighth. Relief pitcher Pete Sikaras came in the game, giving up back-to-back hits to third baseman Corey Smith and Wilson. Smith was replaced by pinch runner Dan Hennigan and Left Fielder Luis Montanez then singled to right field, allowing Hennigan to score and leave runners at the corners. Sikaras would retire the next two batters he faced though, for a 5-5 tie.

Southern Maryland's Tommy Mendoza then stepped on to the mound in extra innings allowing three runs to score for the Patriots as Somerset would go on to win recording a 8-5 final.

The Blue Crabs remain home tomorrow for the middle of three games against the Somerset Patriots. The game slated for 6:35 p.m. will be the sixth meeting between the two clubs this season. Fans can listen to the Blue Crabs live broadcast tomorrow on www.phoenixintermedia.com with pre-game beginning at 6:15 p.m. Fans can also follow the Blue Crabs on www.somdbluecrabs.com.

Check out the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Statistics

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Atlantic League Stories from April 26, 2013


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