Waldorf, Md. – For the second night in a row, the Blue Crabs came out guns a blazing in Texas. Southern Maryland stormed the Sugar Land Skeeters early, and just like on Opening Day, it all started with Angelys Nina. As if game two couldn’t become any more reminiscent of the game one’s stomping of the defending champs, once again Frank Martinez drove in Nina, only this he blasted a homer over the right field fence. It took just three batters for the good guys to pull ahead to a 2-0 lead.
Craig Stem got the start on the mound for the Blue Crabs this evening and immediately proved why he was top 10 in the league in ERA last season. The rocket-armed-righty pounded the strike zone early, exuding confidence, and rightly so considering the Blue Crabs won 22 of the games he pitched in last year.
Southern Maryland mounted a two-out bases load top of the fifth with a full head of steam. Edwin Garcia singled, Nina followed with a double to put the pair in scoring position, and Rubi Silva did the rest. After knocking home two in the season opener, the right fielder Silva came through again with a 2 RBI double to push the Blue Crabs ahead even further. Martinez kept it going with an RBI single to give the Blue Crabs a 5-0 lead through five innings, and giving Martinez six RBI in his first two games. This gave way to the Skeeters’ bullpen and ended Sugar Land starter Konner Wade’s night.
Garcia gave the Blue Crabs some extra cushion in the top of the seventh with a solo shot to make the score 6-0, which gave Stem the rest of the night off after tossing six scoreless frames. The Skeeters caught fire against the Southern Maryland bullpen in the bottom of the inning, putting up five runs off a trio of Southern Maryland relievers, and tacked on one more in the eighth, quickly turning a blowout to a 6-6 nail biter in the blink of an eye.
With the momentum and the home field advantage working against him, Blue Crabs’ closer Mat Latos entered a tie ball game in the bottom of the ninth. After recording two quick outs, the Skeeters’ Juan Silverio smoked a triple to right-center field to put the winning run 90 feet from home plate. It appeared that the game was headed to extra innings until the Blue Crabs committed a costly error to hand Sugar Land their first win of the season. The Skeeters came back from down six to win by a final score of 7-6.
The Blue Crabs’ home opener is May 3rd against the Lancaster Barnstormers. To save your seat at the ballpark for the upcoming season and other team news, visit www.somdbluecrabs.com or call 301-638-9788.
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 call Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland home. The 12th franchise season will begin April 2019. For more information on the SOMD Blue Crabs, please call 301-638-9788 or visit http://www.somdbluecrabs.comfor 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.