Blue Crabs lose in extras to York
Lose third straight game
After losing two of three close games on the road in New Britain over the weekend, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs came back home to find another tight contest Monday night in the first of a three-game series versus York.
Tied at 5, Alexi Casilla led off the top of the 11th with a single which was quickly followed by an RBI double from Isaias Tejeda, both hits off of Blue Crabs reliever Jesse Beal, and the Revolution held on for a 6-5 win at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf.
It was the third straight loss for Southern Maryland after winning 5-4 in 11 on Friday to start the three-game series at New Britain.
Casilla led the way with four hits for York as Joe Van Meter retired all three batters he faced in the bottom of the 11th to pick up his first save of the season. Chase Huchingson delivered the win in relief after throwing a scoreless bottom of the 10th, giving up just one hit with one strikeout.
“We’re battling right now and are playing in a lot of tough games,” Blue Crabs manager John Harris said. “We came back twice tonight, just have to minimize the mistakes and keep playing.”
York outhit Southern Maryland 17-10 in the game, which featured a combined 13 pitchers used.
It was the second straight loss in two days for Beal, giving up a twoout, walk-off single to Conor Bierfeldt in the bottom of the ninth of Sunday’s 5-4 loss to New Britain in the three-game series finale.
Monday, the Blue Crabs went ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth on LJ Hoes’ two-out RBI single to right, scoring Michael Snyder, who reached on a throwing error earlier in the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Southern Maryland turned things over to its closer Cody Eppley in the top of the ninth looking to shut the door.
However, with runners on second and third base and one out, Tejeda singled off the left-field wall to put York back in front 5-4.
In the bottom of the inning against York closer Brad Allen, the Blue Crabs were down to their last strike when Zach Cone doubled, then they were down to their last strike again when Edwin Garcia doubled to score Cone and tie the game at 5.
York took an early 3-0 lead as Luis Cruz hit a three-run home run off of Blue Crabs starter Daryl Thompson.
The 2003 La Plata High School graduate did not factor into the decision, going six innings and allowing three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
“Other than the home run, I felt I pitched strong,” Thompson said. “Can’t be mad at our effort. We fought hard and played well, just came up short.”
The Blue Crabs tied the game at 3 in the bottom of the fourth on Luis Alen’s two-run single and an RBI groundout from Patrick Palmeiro.
Entering Game 2 of the series on Tuesday, York (34-47 overall, 6-5 second half) was tied with Lancaster (44-36, 6-5) for tops in the Freedom Division second-half standings with Southern Maryland (46-35, 5-5) a halfgame behind.
The series finale between the
Blue Crabs and Revolution is scheduled for 6:35 tonight, then the Blue Crabs head out on the road for an eight-game road trip that will start with four in Bridgeport on Thursday and continue with four games in three days next week versus Somerset.
“Baseball is a game of ups and downs,” said Hoes, who finished with three hits as did Cone. “We are trying to build in the second half and get better. We are playing .500 baseball and we are trying to get healthy. We will be fine, it was a tough loss tonight.”
Sunday, the Blue Crabs trailed 4-2 heading to the top of the ninth. Ryan Wiggins led off the frame with a home run, then Zach Wilson tied the game at 4 with a two-out solo blast, his 14th homer of the season.
Blue Crabs starter Brian Grening pitched a no-decision, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts with one walk.
Friday, Eppley came on for the bottom of the 11th and the first two New Britain hitters reached. Walton was caught stealing on a missed bunt attempt and Yusuke Kajimoto grounded out in a game-ending 4-6-3 double play.
Vaughn went 2 for 3 at the plate with four RBIs. He had a three-run homer in the first and later had an RBI single that tied the game at 4 in the sixth.
Craig Stem got the win on the hill for the Blue Crabs to go to 2-1, while Eppley picked up his 23rd save.
The Blue Crabs bullpen of Cody Hebner, Beal, Robert Carson, Stem and Eppley held the Bees scoreless for the final 4 2/3 innings, allowing just three hits with five strikeouts and no walks.