High Point, NC. – In the High Point Rockers’ inaugural season, the Blue Crabs first ever series with their Atlantic League foes didn’t go as planned. After dropping the first two games of a three-game series, Southern Maryland clawed back to tie the series finale up, before allowing a Rockers walk-off homerun to give High Point the series sweep, as they’d take game three by a final score of 4-3.
Southern Maryland sent a right-hander in the early conversation for ALPB Pitcher of the Year candidate to the mound, in Craig Stem. Stem, who came into the game top four in the league in ERA, WHIP, and opponents’ batting average against, in rare fashion allowed trio of runs in the early going. The Rockers’ Hector Gomez brought in the first run of the contest on a sacrifice fly that notched the score at 1-0 after an inning played.
The High Point bats rocked on in each of the following innings, tacking on an additional run in both the second and the third. In the second, Brett Austin grounded an RBI single up the middle, and Gomez followed in the third with his second RBI in as many plate appearances, putting the Rockers up 3-0 through one third of a ball game.
The Blue Crabs finally cracked the code that had been the Rockers starter, Tyler Herron, in the top of the sixth inning. Tony Thomas blasted his second home run of the season, bringing Rubi Silva home with him to make the score 3-2. Blue Crabs’ hitting coach/player, Craig Maddox would even the scoring later in the inning by driving in Cory Vaughn, knotting the scoring at three.
The scoring screeched to a halt following the Blue Crabs rebuttal, as the teams would trade scoreless innings through the latter stages. High Point closer Trevor Frank (W, 1-1) shutdown the Blue Crabs in the top of the ninth, and Southern Maryland closer, Mat Latos (L, 0-3) got the call in the bottom of the inning. The Rockers’ Tyler Ladendorf came up to the plate one out away from heading to extra innings, and launched a solo shot home run to left-field to walk off the Blue Crabs. The Rockers completed the series sweep, winning by a final score of 4-3.
The Blue Crabs stay on the road for the next four days, and will return home next Friday, May 24th, the first game of a seven day, seven game homestand at Regency Furniture Stadium, with the first pitch at 6:35 PM.
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.