No Ordinary Joe
Published on September 1, 2011 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs News Release
Waldorf, MD - Southern Maryland starter Joe Gannon tossed nine shutout innings on three hits as the Blue Crabs defeated the Bridgeport Bluefish in game two of a
day-night doubleheader 2-0 at Regency Furniture Stadium on Thursday night in front of 4,153 fans. That game was preceded by a 6-4, 10-inning defeat to the
Bluefish in game one that saw the Blue Crabs leave 13 men on base. The Blue Crabs ended the night three games behind Bridgeport for a possible wild card berth in
the Atlantic League playoffs.
In game one, the Bluefish scored the first three runs as first baseman Wes Bankston (23) hit a two-run homer in the first inning to draw first blood before a wild pitch
from Blue Crabs starter Virgil Vasquez in the second plated designated hitter Brock Peterson from third to give the Bluefish a 3-0 lead.
The Blue Crabs got back into the game in the fourth as a throwing error from Bridgeport third baseman Luis Lopez, on a bunt attempt by centerfielder Jeremy Owens,
scored Southern Maryland third baseman Travis Garcia from first to make the count 3-1. Owens went to third on the play, then scored on an RBI single by shortstop
Tanner Townsend to make it 3-2.
In the sixth, Southern Maryland loaded the bases with no one out when second baseman Bridger Hunt hit a single off the leftfield wall, which tied the game at three.
However, on the play, runners went back to tag-up at their respective bases thinking that Bridgeport leftfielder Steve Moss would make the catch on Hunt's ball. As a
result, the runners could only move up one base on the play.
With the bases loaded and still no one out, Bridgeport starter Matt Pike was lifted from the game and replaced by reliever Chris Rivera who mowed down the Blue
Crabs 3-4-5 hitters (designated hitter Brian Barton, first baseman Casey Benjamin, and Garcia) to keep the game tied.
Things stayed that way until the ninth inning when Blue Crabs closer Jim Ed Warden issued a bases-loaded walk to Lopez to give the Bluefish a 4-3 lead.
Southern Maryland responded in the bottom of the ninth as Garcia singled in Barton from second base to tie the game at four. Afterwards, the Blue Crabs had
runners at first and second with none out and a chance to win the game. But Bridgeport reliever Juan Rincon settled in and proceeded to strike out leftfielder Ben
Harrison, Owens, and induce a fly out by Townsend to end the inning and send the game into the 10th.
It was there that Moss (13) led off the frame with a solo homer against Warden to retake the lead for the Bluefish. Later in the inning, Bridgeport scored an
insurance run as a throwing error by Southern Maryland reliever Eduardo Morlan, on a bunt attempt from catcher Michael Moras, brought in right fielder Danny
Putnam to give the Bluefish the final count of 6-4.
Reliever Antonio Alfonseca retired the Blue Crabs 1-2-3 in the 10th to record his second save of the season.
Despite giving up the tying run in the ninth, Rincon (2-1) got the win for Bridgeport, while Warden (1-5) suffered the loss for Southern Maryland.
The loss overshadowed another strong pitching performance from Vasquez who allowed only three runs on five hits in seven innings of work. The Blue Crabs left 13
men on base, including eight in scoring position. Through the first two games of the series, Southern Maryland had left 16 base runners in scoring position
and 21 on base overall.
Game two was all about Gannon who tossed nine shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out seven as the Blue Crabs defeated the Bluefish in game two 2-0.
Gannon tied and set a new record in the game as his start was his 55th in a Southern Maryland uniform, tying the club mark set by Ryan Bicondoa. Gannon's seven
strikeouts also made him the Blue Crabs' all-time strikeout king with 222, surpassing Bicondoa's 218. He set the mark in the sixth inning when he struck out second
baseman Andres Perez to end the frame.
The only two runs of the game came in the bottom of the sixth when the Blue Crabs scored two unearned runs. After centerfielder Adam Godwin singled with one
out, a circus-filled play off the bat of Hunt led to the game's first run. Hunt sent a routine groundball to third baseman Angel Chavez who saw the ball go off his glove
and trickle into left field. On the play, leftfielder Prentice Redmond kicked the ball while trying to field it, which allowed for Godwin to score from first ahead of a
throw from Redmond that went to the backstop and allowed Hunt to reach third. All told, there were three errors on the play and a run scored.
Barton followed that with an infield single that allowed Hunt to score and give the Blue Crabs a 2-0 lead.
The Bluefish only had three singles for the game and left no more than one runner on in an inning. Taking the loss for Bridgeport was reliever Matt Smith (3-8) who
allowed both unearned runs on three hits in three innings of work. Starter Julio Manon began the game for the Bluefish with five shutout innings, three hits, no walks
and six strikeouts.
For the doubleheader, Godwin led the Blue Crabs with five singles, a run scored and a stolen base. Three of his five hits came in game two. Townsend chipped in
with two hits in five at-bats in game one with an RBI and a run scored.
Bridgeport's Bankston was the only member of the Bluefish to have a hit in each game as he went a combined 2-10 with a homer, a run scored and three RBI. Moss,
Putnam, Peterson and Chavez each had two hits in game one. Peterson doubled and scored a run, while Putnam and Moss chipped in with a run apiece. Hitters 5-9
for the Bluefish went 9-22 in game one with a homer, one RBI and four runs scored.
The Blue Crabs will head to Lancaster on Saturday for the first of a three-game series with the Barnstormers beginning at 6:30 at Clipper Magazine Stadium. Southern Maryland will send righty Michael Schlact (6-3, 4.09 ERA) to the hill against a to-be-determined pitcher for Lancaster. The game can be heard on www.somdbluecrabs.com.
Atlantic League Stories from September 1, 2011
- Schumacher Shoos Away Ducks In Revolution Debut - York Revolution
- No Ordinary Joe - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Sanchez Stumps Stormers - Lancaster Stormers
- Late Rally Leads Patriots to 3-0 Win - Somerset Patriots
- Camden Ends Losing Streak - Camden Riversharks
- Barnstormers Present Ladies Night - Lancaster Stormers
- Revolution Turn Back the Clock to '25 with $0.25 Tix on 9/14 - York Revolution
- Bluefish Sign Veteran Hurler - Bridgeport Bluefish
- Revs Outslug Ducks And Win Fifth Straight - York Revolution
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
