The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs lost 8-7 to the Gastonia Ghost Peppers in 10 innings Friday at Regency Furniture Stadium. Gastonia overcame a two-run deficit in the ninth inning before Grant Lavigne delivered the go-ahead RBI double in the 10th.
The loss moved the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs to 26-22 and 67-45, while the Gastonia Ghost Peppers improved to 27-22 and 65-47. Ryan McCarthy drove in two runs for Southern Maryland, and Lavigne finished with four RBIs for Gastonia.
Gastonia rallies after Southern Maryland builds late lead
Gastonia opened the scoring in the second inning when Lavigne hit a solo home run. Jordan Thompson started the bottom half with a double, and McCarthy followed with an RBI double to tie the game at 1-1.
McCarthy gave the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs a 2-1 lead with a 371-foot solo home run in the fifth inning. The homer was his seventh of the season and his first since June 30.
Lavigne hit his second home run of the game in the sixth inning, a two-run shot that put the Gastonia Ghost Peppers ahead 3-2. After Gastonia starting pitcher Connor Gray completed six innings while allowing two runs, Alejandro De Aza tied the game with an RBI single, and Taylor Darden followed with another RBI single to give Southern Maryland a 4-3 lead.
Justin Wylie tied the game at 4-4 with a solo home run in the eighth inning. The Blue Crabs then took a 6-4 lead, but Jace Rinehart hit a two-run home run in the ninth to tie the game at 6-6.
Gastonia reliever Donovan Benoit pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth inning to send the game to extra innings. Lavigne hit an RBI double and Chris Proctor followed with an RBI single in the 10th, giving the Ghost Peppers an 8-6 lead.
Stephen Paolini brought Southern Maryland within one run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th. Benoit held the Blue Crabs to one run while securing the win, and Donovan Burke took the loss.
Ian Kahaloa reaches Atlantic League strikeout milestone
Southern Maryland starting pitcher Ian Kahaloa allowed four runs on seven hits over 7 2/3 innings and recorded a season-high nine strikeouts. He also crossed 100 strikeouts for the third time in his Atlantic League career.
Kahaloa became the seventh pitcher in Atlantic League history to reach 100 strikeouts three times. Gray recorded his third quality start of the season against Southern Maryland after allowing two runs over six innings.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs continue series Saturday
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs will continue their series against the Gastonia Ghost Peppers Saturday, Aug. 29, at Regency Furniture Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Southern Maryland will celebrate Western Night, and fans wearing western-themed outfits will receive free admission.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs received key contributions from McCarthy and Kahaloa, but Gastonia rallied late to claim the extra-inning win. Lavigne’s four-RBI performance included two home runs and the go-ahead double, while Rinehart’s ninth-inning homer erased Southern Maryland’s two-run lead.
The Blue Crabs will have an immediate opportunity to respond when the series resumes Saturday at Regency Furniture Stadium.
Source: Original report
