FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2019
Contact: Andrew Bandstra
515-664-6936
[email protected]
Crabs Grab Crucial W
Central Islip, NY – The Blue Crabs lost three games in a row just a couple of days ago, and facing a season determining crisis, they responded with back-to-back wins over the playoff bound Long Island Ducks, winning tonight 2-1 in extra innings.
It was a slow contest offensively as Daryl Thompson and Joe Iorio battled on the bump. After allowing a hit to the Ducks leadoff man Rey Fuentes in the first inning, Thompson buckled down and didn’t allow another hit until the bottom of the seventh inning in incredible fashion.
After being scratched just before yesterday’s start, Thompson is no longer due for six more starts this season including tonight, rather five starts. Had he started yesterday, he would’ve been in line to break the Atlantic League single season strikeout record by ten. After missing yesterday’s start and striking out just three today, he is now in line to tie the record.
That being said, the humble Thompson who is not focused on records tossed a gem. The La Plata native who is nearly a shoe in for Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year honors continued to impress in a historic season, allowing just one Ducks run through eight and two third innings while allowing just four hits.
The Blue Crabs lone run support in regulation came from Charlie Valerio as he hit a home run for second game in a row, and his fourth of this road trip.
After Thompson walked a batter with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Mat Latos (W, 4-4) who had better than a 95% save percentage came in and allowed the Ducks to tie the game at 1-1.
In extra innings, Southern Maryland scored a run on a Pedro Beato (L, 3-3) wild pitch. In the bottom of the tenth inning, Latos came back out. With one out and the Blue Crabs infield in on the grass a soft ground ball was hit to second and Daniel Fields tried going home. Kent Blackstone made a phenomenal play to throw out Fields at home, and Southern Maryland picked up the crucial win. On another note, Daryl Thompson picked up his first no decision in his last 18 starts, dating back to May 7th.
The Blue Crabs will return home tomorrow, Friday August 30th for the series opener of a four game set with the York Revolution, with a 5:05 p.m. first pitch with game two of a double header to follow.
Catch all Blue Crabs home games on the Blue Crabs Broadcast Network, live streamed on YouTube (@SOMDBlueCrabs) Facebook (@SOMDBlueCrabs) and Twitter (@BlueCrabs).
About the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
The Blue Crabs play 140 regular season games in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs. The Blue Crabs, in their 12th season of baseball, call Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland home. For more information on the Blue Crabs, please call 301-638-9788 or visit http://www.somdbluecrabs.com for more information.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
With eight teams in the Mid-Atlantic and Texas, the ALPB is a leader in baseball innovation and a player gateway to Major League Baseball. Through its exclusive partnership with MLB, the Atlantic League tests Major League Baseball rules and equipment initiatives. The Atlantic League has sent over 900 players to MLB organizations while drawing more than 40 million fans to its affordable, family-friendly ballparks throughout its 22-year history.
For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.
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