Thrilling Eighth Inning Comeback Propels Blue Crabs To Yet Another Home Win
August 22, 2010 - Atlantic League (AtL)
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs News Release
As the Blue Crabs entered the rubber game of a three-game series against the Camden Riversharks on Sunday, they hadn't lost a series in nearly three months, dropping two out of three games at Long Island from May 28-30. That also marked the last time the Blue Crabs have been under .500 this season, at 17-18. More impressive, Southern Maryland hadn't lost a series at home since May 14-16, losing two of three to Somerset. After a stirring eighth-inning comeback, both streaks remain intact after a 6-5 Crab win.
Camden jumped in front in the top of the first against Blue Crabs starter Craig Anderson. The lefty surrendered a leadoff bunt single to Chris Walker, who later scored on a Brian Burgamy sac-fly to center, making the score 1-0.
That score would hold until the bottom of the fifth, when the Blue Crabs roared back. Ben Harrison reached on a leadoff walk against Riversharks starter Brad Knox, and moved to third on a Richard Giannotti one-out double down the line in right. With two out, Shaun Cumberland stroked a two-run single to left, plating both runners for a 2-1 Southern Maryland lead. That lead would put Anderson in line for the win, after he went six innings. Tossing 80 pitches, the run he allowed was unearned. He allowed five hits and a walk, striking out three.
Anderson would get a no-decision however, as Camden tied the game 2-2 in the top of the seventh. Teuris Olivares began the inning with a single off reliever Steve Palazzolo, and Olivares scored on a Raul Padron double down the left field line a batter later.
The Sharks later broke the tie with two-out in the seventh, on a three-run homer by Sean Smith. Padron was at second, and Juan Francia at first after a walk, making the score 5-2.
Back-to-back doubles to left with one out in the home half of the seventh trimmed the lead to 5-3, from Christian Lopez and Giannotti with the RBI. It was Giannotti's second double of the night. Lopez would wind up being the hero of the night for the Crabs, as it was his bases-loaded two-run double off the top of the wall in left-center that put Southern Maryland ahead for good in the bottom of the eighth, missing a grand-slam by inches on his second double of the evening.
The Blue Crabs batted around in the eighth, scoring three times on three hits and three walks off three different Camden arms. Tracy Thorpe and lefty Tim Bitter finished the inning, after Knox (4-7) went 7-plus. Knox finished the night tagged with six runs all earned, allowing seven hits and three walks with a strikeout. Closer Jim Ed Warden overcame two walks in the ninth, stranding two runners with a game-ending strikeout of Sean Smith.
The save was Warden's 24th of the season, which leads the Atlantic League. He is also the franchise's all-time leader, with 37 saves in a Blue Crabs uniform over the past two seasons. Lefty Bryan Dumesnil (2-2) picked up the win, throwing a scoreless eighth with a strikeout.
With the defeat, Camden dropped to 54-59 on the season, and 15-28 in the second half. At 69-42, the first place Blue Crabs maintain the best overall record in the Atlantic League, and are 28-13 in the second half.
The Blue Crabs will be back in action Monday evening at Regency Furniture Stadium, in the first of a four-game series against the Lancaster Barnstormers, continuing a seven-game homestand. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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Atlantic League Stories from August 22, 2010
- Patriots Blast Past Stormers - Lancaster Stormers
- Ducks Game Postponed - Long Island Ducks
- Soggy Night in Long Island - Newark Bears
- Thrilling Eighth Inning Comeback Propels Blue Crabs To Yet Another Home Win - Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
- Rally Puts Patriots Alone in First - Somerset Patriots
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