AtL Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

Despite Reichert's Complete Game, Blue Crabs Lose Series Opener

Published on August 23, 2010 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs News Release


RHP Dan Reichert tossed his second complete game of the season, but it was not enough to propel the Blue Crabs to victory as they fell to the Lancaster Barnstormers 3-2 Monday night at Regency Furniture Stadium.

Reichert (14-8) suffered the loss despite throwing five perfect innings and retiring eight Barnstormers in a row to begin the game. Reichert remains the league leader in wins, and his five strikeouts tied him with Lancaster righthander Ben Fritz atop the Atlantic League with 118 total.

The Barnstormers drew first blood in the third on a towering solo home run by centerfielder Joe Gaetti. On a 1-0 count, Gaetti crushed his 14th homer of the season over the leftfield wall. It was the first of only four hits allowed by Reichert.

Southern Maryland took the lead in the bottom of the inning though, thanks to back-to-back homers by second baseman Casey Benjamin and first baseman Eric Crozier. With two outs, Benjamin turned on a 3-1 offering by LHP Wayne Franklin and belted it into deep right. It was Benjamin's 17th home run of the season, tying him for fifth in the league. Crozier followed with his 19th dinger of the year into left-center. Crozier is now tied with Josh Pressley of Somerset for the Atlantic League lead in homers.

Lancaster scored two more runs in the fourth to regain the lead for good. Designated hitter L.J. Biernbaum drew a leadoff walk, and two batters later rightfielder Reggie Taylor singled to center. An error allowed Biernbaum to score all the way from first and moved Taylor up to second, though. First baseman Ryan Mulhern then gave his team the 3-2 edge with an RBI single, driving in Taylor.

Franklin struck out five Blue Crabs in seven innings of work to earn the win and improve to 1-2. After centerfielder Jeremy Owens reached base in the ninth on third strike that got away from the catcher, lefthander Tim Hamulack earned his eighth save with three more strikeouts.

At 69-43, the first place Blue Crabs maintain the best overall record in the Atlantic League, and are 28-14 in the second half.

The Blue Crabs will be back in action Tuesday evening at Regency Furniture Stadium, in the second of a four-game series against the Lancaster Barnstormers, continuing a seven-game homestand. RHP Josh Hall (11-5, 5.41) is the scheduled starter for Lancaster, opposite LHP John Koronka (0-1, 10.29) for Southern Maryland. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Atlantic League Stories from August 23, 2010


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