Blue Crabs fall short in York
Revolution break tie in 8th for win after losing series opener
Entering the second of a three-game series in York on Wednesday night, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs had won four out of its last five games coming out of the allstar break.
However, with the score tied at 6 and one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Michael Rockett delivered with a single to right field, driving in Brandon Chaves to lift the Revolution to an eventual 7-6 win at PeoplesBank Park in York, Pa., to tie the series at 1 apiece after the Blue Crabs won the series opener Tuesday 5-1.
Southern Maryland, which finished with 11 hits just like York, had a chance to tie or take the lead in the top of the ninth after Zach Wilson led off the inning with a single, but the next three batters were retired to end the game.
Ricardo Gomez picked up the win for the Revolution, who used a total of seven pitchers, as he went one-third of an inning, retiring Michael Snyder with the Blue Crabs having a potential go-ahead run on first in the top of the eighth. Mike DeMark got his 22nd save after pitching a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts, allowing just one hit.
Blue Crabs reliever Scott Snodgress got the loss, allowing the pivotal run in the eighth on three hits with five strikeouts. Starter Tim Sexton pitched a no-decision, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing six runs, three earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts.
“We had some plays that just didn’t go our way. Both teams hit and the game went back and forth,” Blue Crabs manager Jeremy Owens said. “Tim pitched well, I could’ve taken him out in the sixth, but I chose to keep him in. Scott came in and gave us a few innings. York just got the timely hits when they needed them.”
The Blue Crabs wrapped up the series in York on Thursday morning before coming back home for a three-game homestand versus Long Island, which kicks off at 7:05 tonight.
York (46-36 overall, 6-6 second half) took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but the Blue Crabs answered with two runs the top of the second, the second on an RBI groundout from Eric Garcia.
York went back on top 3-2 in the third and the Blue Crabs tied the game again at 3 in the fifth on a Wilson RBI single. The visitors pushed the lead to 6-3 in the top of the sixth as Angel Sanchez led off with a home run, then the inning continued with RBI singles from D’Arby Myers and Snyder. York responded with three-run double by pinch hitter Joel Guzman in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game up at 6.
“We had our opportunities to close out that game when we were up three runs in the [top] of the sixth,” Owens said. “We had an error at second in the bottom [of the sixth] that hurt us as well. We couldn’t get out of that inning. But overall we’ve been playing well and putting ourselves in position to win.”
The Blue Crabs (31-51, 5-8), who left 11 runners stranded in the game, were led by Myers with a 3 for 5 night at the plate with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Snyder, Wilson and Sanchez each had two hits and a RBI. “It was a close game. We battled and a had a chance to win, York just made some big hits,” said Myers, who had a 17-game hitting streak entering Thursday. “We had our struggles in the first half, but things are starting to come together for us right now.”
Tuesday, Southern Maryland took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Snyder drove in Bryant Nelson on a sacrifice fly. Snyder, who was 2 for 4 with three RBIs, pushed the lead to 3-0 in the fifth with a two-run homer. The Blue Crabs, who finished with 14 hits on the night, added an insurance run in the eighth and again in the ninth.
Wilson finished 3 for 4 at the plate with two doubles and two runs scored. Gustavo Molina also had three hits for the Blue Crabs. Wilson, Snyder and Molina combined for 8 for 13 at the plate with four runs driven in.
Nelson recorded one hit in each of the two games and now stands at 1,042 hits, 11 from breaking Jeff Nettles mark for most hits in Atlantic League history.
Blue Crabs starter Brian Grening picked up the win on the hill to even his record at 4-4. Grening pitched 6 2/3 innings, surrendering no runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.