Newcomer Porter's RBI Single Wins Game for Southern Maryland, 6-5
September 9, 2010 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Newark Bears News Release
NEWARK, N.J. (September 9, 2010) - Greg Porter made the most of his debut for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, collecting two hits, including an RBI single in the top of the seventh that snapped a 5-5 tie, giving the Blue Crabs a 6-5 win over the Newark Bears Thursday night at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium.
The Blue Crabs scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh, when Matt Craig singled with one out. That hit ended the night for Bears starter and loser Kelvin Villa (3-9), who pitched a game 6 1/3 innings, striking out nine during that stretch.
Bears reliever Nick Renault got the first batter he faced to ground out to shortstop, but then Porter, who was added to the team's roster right before the game and started at first base, drove a single up the middle to score Craig with the game-winning run.
The run enabled reliever Ryan Speier (3-3), the third of six Southern Maryland pitchers, to earn the victory. Jim Ed Warden pitched the ninth to earn his Atlantic League-leading 29th save of the season.
The Bears certainly had their chances all night, but left XX runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded without scoring in both the fifth and sixth innings.
The second inning was definitely a bizarre one and lasted for just a little under an hour.
It started with the Blue Crabs scoring four runs off Villa on a highly controversial call. With the bases loaded, Southern Maryland catcher Christian Lopez lifted a high fly to left that cleared the wall and went over the foul pole. Home plate umpire Dan Merzel initially called it foul, but Blue Crabs manager Butch Hobson vehemently objected about the call and Merzel met with the other two umpires. The call was then overturned and Lopez was awarded a grand slam, giving the Blue Crabs a 4-0 lead.
In the aftermath of the call, Bears second baseman Tim Raines, Jr. was ejected by crew chief Dan Wilson.
The Bears then erupted for five runs in the bottom of the second, a frame that saw Blue Crabs starter Joe Newby leave the game with an undisclosed injury.
Sandy Madera had the big hit in the inning for the Bears, a bases-clearing double that gave the Bears a 5-4 lead. Kennard Jones drove in one run in the inning with a bases-loaded walk and the other run scored via a passed ball.
The Blue Crabs tied the game at 5-5 in the third inning on a RBI single by Travis Garcia, scoring Patrick Osborn, who doubled.
The Bears received two hits and three RBI from Madera. Brian Barton and Randy Gress also had two hits each for the Bears.
Other than Porter, the Blue Crabs received two hits and an RBI from Garcia.
The Bears return to action Friday night to begin a three-game series with the Camden Riversharks to close out the home portion of the 2010 season, with first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m.
Atlantic League Stories from September 9, 2010
- Bluefish Tie Single-Season Record With 78th Victory - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Ducks Sweep Sharks - Camden Riversharks
- Newcomer Porter's RBI Single Wins Game for Southern Maryland, 6-5 - Newark Bears
- Lightning to Host Colts This Saturday at Clipper Magazine Stadium - Lancaster Stormers
- Silver Sluggers in the Stands and on the Field at Old-Timers' Game - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Nelson Paces Barnstormers To Split - Lancaster Stormers
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