(New Britain, CT., Jun. 19, 2018) - The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (19-28) dropped the series opener against the New Britain Bees (22-26) 10-1, behind a complete game from Zach Stewart (4-3).
The Bees struck first in the series, scoring in the bottom of the first. Back-to-back singles from Reid Brignac and Deibinson Romero got the offense going, putting a runner in scoring position with one out. Jason Rogers added a third straight single, scoring Brignac from second to grab an early 1-0 lead.
After a scoreless second, the Blue Crabs offense responded with one of their own in the third. Austin Green started the inning with a double, advancing up to third on a flyout to right field from Angelys Nina. Francisco Rosario then picked up a single, easily scoring Green from third to tie the game.
The Bees immediately took the lead back, putting up three in the bottom half of the inning. Paul Clemens (1-2) got two quick outs to start the inning, before a Rogers single extended the frame. Rogers went first to third on a single from Josh Thole, scoring on the following play when an error was committed by the first baseman. Jamar Walton followed with a double, scoring Thole and Jonathon Galvez to give New Britain a 4-1 lead.
The Bees added two more in the fourth off Clemens, extending the lead further. The inning started with a pair of walks, before a flyout to right advanced James Skelton to third. A sacrifice fly from Romero scored Skelton, with a single from Rogers scoring Darren Ford on the next play.
David Wayne Russo came on in relief, and allowed a triple to Galvez to start the following inning. Galvez scored during the next at-bat, coming across a wild pitch from Russo. Two straight outs followed, before a single from Skelton extended the inning for Ford. The speedy Ford came up with a two-out triple, scoring Skelton from first to take an 8-1 lead.
The offensive outburst continued in the sixth, as New Britain added two more in the inning. Romero and Rogers stayed hot to start, singling and doubling to put two in scoring position with nobody out. A groundout from Thole scored Romero and advanced Rogers to third, where he would score on a Galvez single.
Stewart continued to dominate the Southern Maryland offense, not allowing a baserunner from innings 4-7. Green ended that streak in the eighth when he was hit by a pitch with two outs, but a flyout immediately ended the inning. The right-hander then struck out the side in order in the ninth, finishing off the 10-1 Bees win and his first complete game of the season.
The Blue Crabs return to action Wednesday, June 20th for a doubleheader against the Bees. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 P.M. on Wednesday at New Britain Stadium.
For more information on the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, or to reserve your seat today for any of the Blue Crabs upcoming home games, please visit our website at somdbluecrabs.com or call us at 301-638-9788.