Game Recap 5/11 – Crabs Win!

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs narrowly defeated the Charleston Dirty Birds 3-2 in a South Division clash at Regency Furniture Stadium, drawing 2,876 fans on Mother’s day. The Blue Crabs won two of three and improved to 8-7 on the year.

John Kelly got the start for the Crabs and was opposed by David Lebron for Charleston. The game remained scoreless through two innings as Charleston’s Lebron and Southern Maryland’s Kelly traded zeroes early.

In the third, Southern Maryland opened the scoring. Cael Chatham doubled, and Loftin blooped a single with the infield in and Chatham on third, for a 1-0 lead. Lebron stranded Loftin, allowing 5 hits and 1 run over 5 innings.

Charleston responded in the fourth when Zach Daniels launched a solo home run off Kelly, tying the game at 1-1.

Kelly hit Joseph Rosa and walked Demetrius Moorer but struck out Bobby Bradley and Tyler Hill to escape further damage.

Charleston took the lead in the fifth. Moorer walked, stole second, and scored after an error by Loftin, and a balk by Kelly, giving the Dirty Birds a 2-1 edge. Kelly retired the next three batters. Kelly got the no decision after completing five innings and allowing two runs.

The Blue Crabs answered in the sixth against reliever Seth Nightingale. Alejandro De Aza walked, stole second, and Dondrei Hubbard singled him home to tie it at 2-2.

The seventh proved decisive, as John Taylor crushed a solo home run off Gilman to dead center field, putting Southern Maryland ahead 3-2.

Rafi Vazquez (WP, 2 IP, 0 H) took over and threw a 1-2-3 seventh for the Blue Crabs. In the eighth, Vazquez kept Charleston hitless.

In the ninth, Andre Scrubb closed it out, retiring Bradley, Daniels, and Womack, with a strikeout of Bradley sealing his first save of the season. Southern Maryland has won eight of their last ten, and will have the league wide off day Monday and return to action tuesday at Regency Furniture Stadium on Tuesday night against the defending ALPB Champions York Revolution at 6:35pm.