(Gastonia, NC): The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs started the season with a win on Thursday night as both player/ coach starters hurled in game one of a four game set in Gastonia.
The Crabs drew first blood off starter Ian McKinney in the top of the first as leadoff sparkplug Payton Eeles walked and went first to third on a rip by DH Anthony Brocato towards the middle. With first and third, Juan Kelly grounded out to third but hustled to first without a return throw to first plating the first run of the Crabs season, making it 1-0 BC.
Daryl Thompson (ND) gave up a solo blast to Josh Stowers in the 2nd to tie the game. He also worked around a walk and a hit later that inning to strand two and keeping the game tied.
In the top of the third, Eeles ripped an infield single barely knocked down behind second base by Jack Reinheimer to lead off the inning. He then stole second and third base, setting up the Crabs with a runner on third and one out for Brocato, who scorched a single into center field to give the Crabs a 2-1 lead in the 3rd.
In the bottom of the third, Justin Wylie tied the game again with a fly ball homer down the left field line, it was 2-2 until the seventh.
Gastonia’s’ combined bullpen effort stifled the Crabs until the 9th, but the Club threatened in the bottom of the 7th against Thompson after a walk, stolen base, and an error, Eric De La Rosa ended up on third base in a tie game with Thompson facing his last batter. Thompson got a shallow fly ball to centerfield, and Stan Cliburn went to Jason Creasy for a king sized out. Creasy stranded the runner on third striking out Jake Hoover and keeping the game tied.
In the top of the ninth, Michael Wielansky beat out an infield hit, and with one out Juan Kelly hit a let center field gapper scoring Wielansky sliding, giving the Crabs the lead heading into the bottom of the ninth. Endrys Briceno got the save after hitting a batter and giving up s a single, but he got Matt McDermott to line out to center field as the Blue Crabs take game one of the four game set.
Game number two of the series is Friday, at 6:45 Pregame on Flo Sports.