Bats come alive

Blue Crabs bounce back to even series with York

After managing just five hits in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the York Revolution in the first of a threegame series Tuesday night, the bats came alive for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in Game 2.

Southern Maryland pounded out 17 hits and exploded for nine runs, seven of which came off of three home runs, in the first five five innings en route to an eventual 11-1 victory over York on Baseball in Education Day on Wednesday at PeoplesBank Park in York, Pa.

It was the largest margin of victory of the season for the Blue Crabs through Wednesday.

Southern Maryland (20-19 overall) was in second place in the Atlantic League’s Freedom Division, 2 games back of Lancaster, entering Thursday night’s series finale versus York. The Blue Crabs are back home tonight to start a three-game weekend series at Waldorf’s Regency Furniture Stadium versus New Britain at 6:35 p.m.

York dropped to 15-23 with Wednesday’s loss and sits in last place in the Freedom Division.

“Everything came together today,” Blue Crabs

manager John Harris said. “When we are patient at the plate and don’t strike out a lot, our offense can put up runs. Today we were getting one hit after another. York is built on speed and the key to beating them is keeping them off the bases.”

Blue Crabs cleanup hitter Michael Snyder was 4 for 6 at the plate with three RBIs with two runs scored, including a tworun homer in the first inning. Devon Rodriguez also was 4 for 6 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Zach Cone, one of four Blue Crabs batters with two hits, hit a three-run homer in the third, and Patrick Palmeiro had a leadoff homer in the fifth.

“The bats woke up and today we came ready to play for the early game,” Snyder said. The game’s first pitch

occurred at 11:07 a.m.. “In the day games you see the ball differently. Our pitching has been lights out and when we play like this we can beat anybody in the league.”

Blue Crabs starting pitcher Drew Hayes picked up his second straight win, throwing five scoreless innings, giving up just four hits with three walks.

Southern Maryland used four relievers to finish up the game. York got its lone run in the eighth on solo shot by Jared Mitchell.

York starter Logan Williamson suffered the loss as he lasted just 3 1/3 innings, giving up seven earned runs on eight hits with two walks.

On Tuesday, Blue Crabs starter Daryl Thompson had allowed just one hit

through the first innings, but things turned for the 2003 La Plata High School graduate as York’s Joel Guzman hit a solo homer to lead off the fifth and a two-out, two-run blast to Michael Burgess put the Revolution out in front for the close victory.

Thompson went seven innings, giving up three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and did not walk a batter in the losing effort. He was fourth among pitchers for the most strikeouts in the league with 39 strikeouts entering Thursday.

York pitcher Curtis Partch got the win on the hill, striking out six batters, allowing just two runs on five hits with one walk.

Jarret Martin got the save for the Revolution, retiring the side in the bottom of the ninth with two strikeouts.

Southern Maryland’s lone runs came in the top of the third on a RBI single by Edwin Garcia, scoring Kalaika Kahoohalala, and in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Palmeiro.

Blue Crabs sign Thornton

Before Tuesday’s game, the Blue Crabs announced the signing of right-handed relief pitcher Zack Thornton in a team news release.

Thornton, drafted in the 23rd round of the 2010 MLB draft by the Oakland Athletics, enters his eighth season of professional baseball. He spent time in the A’s, Pittsburgh