AtL Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

The Frustration Continues

Published on June 25, 2011 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs News Release


Waldorf, MD - The Blue Crabs lost for the eighth time in their last 11 games as they fell to the Long Island Ducks 3-2 on Saturday night at Regency Furniture Stadium.

Again, the Ducks drew first blood as an RBI single by right fielder Matt Esquivel gave Long Island a 1-0 lead. Southern Maryland responded in the fifth as two infield singles and a throwing error by Long Island put runners at second and third with no one out before an RBI groundout by third baseman Tanner Townsend tied the game.

However, the Blue Crabs still had a runner at third with one out, but back-to-back strikeouts by Long Island starter Mike Parisi ended the inning with Southern Maryland only pushing across one run.

Southern Maryland had another chance to take the lead in the seventh as right fielder Ben Harrison doubled with two out. Townsend then stepped up and provided a clutch single to right field. But Esquivel came up throwing and gunned down Harrison at the plate as he tried to score from second.

Long Island finally broke the tie in the ninth. With the bases loaded and one out, closer Jim Ed Warden hit second baseman Ray Navarrete with a pitch to break the tie, which was followed by a sac fly from shortstop Javier Colina to give the Ducks a 3-1 lead.

Shortstop Yunesky Sanchez led off the ninth with a triple and came in to score a couple of batters later on a sac fly from Casey Benjamin to pull Southern Maryland to within one. But with two out and no one on base, pinch hitter J.R. Hopf was struck out by Long Island closer Bubbie Buzachero to end the game.

Most frustrating of all for the Blue Crabs was the fact that they pounded out 10 hits and could only score two runs. For the series, Southern Maryland has 22 hits but has only plated five runs.

Colina and first baseman Freddie Thon each had two hits for the Ducks while Harrison, Sanchez and Pinckney each had two hits to lead Southern Maryland.

Getting the win in relief for Long Island was Jeremy Hill (2-1) who pitched two inning of shutout baseball and struck out three, while the loss went to Warden (1-2) who gave up two runs in the ninth and lost for the second time this week. Buzachero (11) pitched the ninth to pick up the save. Ducks pitcher struck out 13 Blue Crabs on the night.

Southern Maryland will wrap-up its series with Long Island on Sunday at 5:05. The Blue Crabs will send righty Virgil Vasquez (3-4, 4.99 ERA) to the hill in his first start of the season, against fellow-righty Joselo Diaz (3-4, 5.74 ERA) of the Ducks. The game can be heard on www.somdbluecrabs.com.

Check out the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Statistics

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Atlantic League Stories from June 25, 2011


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