Casey at The Bat
Published on July 3, 2011 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs News Release
Waldorf, MD - Blue Crabs leftfielder Casey Benjamin blasted three homers and drove in six runs as the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs manhandled the Road Warriors 12-3 to take the rubber game of a three game series at Regency Furniture Stadium on Sunday afternoon in front of 1899 patrons. The Blue Crabs tied a season high with 17 hits, which last occurred on May 6th against the Road Warriors as well.
Benjamin (3) started the scoring by belting a solo homer in the first inning to give the Blue Crabs a 1-0 lead. Southern Maryland added another run in the second on an RBI triple by right fielder Ben Harrison to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Road Warriors came back with three runs in the fourth as a two-run homer by first baseman Luis Nieblas (1) and an RBI double by designated hitter Daniel Jordan gave the Road Warriors a 3-2 advantage.
But the Blue Crabs would score the next 10 runs to cruise to victory. Southern Maryland started the scoring with five runs in the fifth inning. A single by catcher J.R. Hopf turned into a circus as throwing errors by right fielder Michael Mooney and starting pitcher Christopher Mason on the play allowed third baseman Kody Kirkland to score from first and sent Hopf to third to tie the game. A sac fly by first baseman Tanner Townsend followed to give Southern Maryland the lead for good at 4-3.
From there, Benjamin (4) would belt his second homer of the game later in the inning, this one a three-run shot, to give the Blue Crabs a 7- 3 lead. In the top of the sixth, Benjamin crashed into the outfield wall while chasing a fly ball and it appeared that he would have leave the game as action was delayed for several minutes while he lay on the ground.
But Benjamin (5) got to his feet, stayed in the game, and hit his third homer of the afternoon in the sixth, this one a two-run shot, to give the Blue Crabs a 9-3 lead. Three batters later, Kirkland went deep for his first homer of the season, a three-run blast, to give the Blue Crabs their final advantage at 12-3.
In addition to Benjamin's three home run afternoon shortstop Yunesky Sanchez went 5-5 with five singles and a run scored. Kirkland chipped in with a 3-4 afternoon on a homer, two singles and three runs scored to go along with three RBI, while Harrison went 2-3 with a triple, double, RBI and three runs scored.
The Road Warriors got two hits apiece from centerfielder Amadeo Zazueta, third baseman Marcos Cabral, and centerfielder Carlos Sosa.
Starter Nick Green (5-2) got the win for Southern Maryland after allowing three runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings. He also walked three and struck out one. Mason suffered the loss for the Road Warriors as he allowed seven runs on 10 hits in five innings of work. Reliever Jason Waddell (1) notched the save after pitching 3.1 scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out four.
The Blue Crabs will now welcome the Bridgeport Bluefish to Regency Furniture Stadium for a special 6:35 start tomorrow on Independence Day. The Blue Crabs will send righty Michael Schlact (3-0, 3.86 ERA) to the hill against southpaw Paul Oseguera (4-2, 3.52 ERA) for the Bluefish. The game can be heard on www.somdbluecrabs.com.
Atlantic League Stories from July 3, 2011
- Barnstormers Fall To Bridgeport - Lancaster Stormers
- Bluefish Bank on Bankston - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Ducks Avoid Sweep with 5-3 Win Over Patriots - Somerset Patriots
- Shut-Down Pitching Gives York Fourth Straight Victory - York Revolution
- Revolution Sweep up Sharks - Camden Riversharks
- Casey at The Bat - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Godwin to DL - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
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