AtL Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

Clutch Hitting Helps Crabs to Win

Published on July 4, 2014 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs News Release


WALDORF, MD . - In front of a season-high 8,172 at Regency Furniture Stadium, Jake Opitz hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom of the 5th inning to propel the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs to a series-opening victory over the Sugar Land Skeeters 8-5. The Blue Crabs have now won four straight games at Regency Furniture Stadium for the first time this season.

Ian Marshall (4-5) came away with the victory allowing four earned runs in six-plus innings while Matt Wright (6-6) was on the hook for the loss allowing five runs, two of them earned, over six innings. Jim Ed Warden came on in the 9th and earned his 13th save of the season.

Each team came away with two, two-out runs in the 1st inning. Delwyn Young lined a single into right field for the first run of the inning and Nick Stavinoha followed with an RBI groundrule double to make it 2-0. Southern Maryland responded by loading the bases and with two outs, Angel Chavez tied the game with a two-run single to right field.

The Blue Crabs grabbed the lead for the first time in the 5th inning thanks to a combination of power at the plate and a defensive lapse in the field by Sugar Land. Jermaine Mitchell led off with a single and Jamar Walton reached on an error by Chase Lambin to put two on. After the next two outs were recorded, Jake Opitz homered down the right field line, his 9th of the season, to give the Crabs the lead at 5-2.

Sugar Land fought back for two runs in the top of the 7th. The first three batters reached to load the bases and then Travis Scott drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in Ryan Langerhans. Stavinoha added his second RBI of the night with a run-scoring fielder's choice to bring the Skeeters within a run at 5-4.

Southern Maryland had a response yet again as they scored three times in the bottom of the 7th. Luke Murton singled up the middle with two outs to score Mitchell and C.J. Ziegler hit a two-run single with the bases loaded to extend the lead to 8-4, the largest of the game. All eight of the Blue Crabs runs in the game were scored with two outs.

The Blue Crabs continue their series with the Skeeters tomorrow with a day-night doubleheader. Game 1 will take place at 1:00 while Game 2 will be played at 6:35. Both games will be seven innings. Purchase tickets for the game by visiting www.somdbluecrabs.com or calling 301-638-9788.

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Atlantic League Stories from July 4, 2014


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