Southern Maryland Blue Crabs fell 8-4 to the Long Island Ducks in Game Two of the Atlantic League Championship Series in Waldorf, Maryland. The loss left Southern Maryland with an 0-2 series record and a 73-53 overall mark, while Long Island improved to 2-0 in the series and 80-46 overall.
The Ducks scored first in the second inning when Alsander Womack doubled and later scored on a Rene Pinto sacrifice fly. Long Island added an RBI double from Marcus Chiu in the fifth inning before Wilmer Difo and Henry Kusiak extended the lead during a two-out rally in the sixth.
Long Island Builds an Eight-Run Lead
Difo hit an RBI single before Kusiak followed with a two-run double, giving the Ducks a 5-0 advantage. Southern Maryland starting pitcher Kyle Virbitsky worked 5.2 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits and four walks while recording three strikeouts. Two of the runs scored after Virbitsky left the game.
Rene Pinto added a three-run home run in the seventh inning, his first hit of the postseason, to give Long Island an 8-0 lead. Anthony Escobar held the Blue Crabs scoreless through seven innings, allowing five hits, issuing no walks and striking out four batters. Escobar earned the win, while Virbitsky took the loss.
Blue Crabs Rally Falls Short
Southern Maryland reached the scoreboard in the eighth inning when Ethan Wilson hit a two-run home run. Alejandro De Aza followed with an RBI single, cutting the deficit to 8-3.
Brody Fahr added an RBI single in the ninth inning, but Long Island relief pitcher Jacob Asa ended the rally. The Ducks completed the 8-4 victory and took a two-games-to-none lead in the championship series.
Game Three Scheduled for Friday
Game Three of the Atlantic League Championship Series is scheduled for Friday, September 25, at 6:35 p.m. The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs will face the Long Island Ducks at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in New York.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs produced four runs across the eighth and ninth innings, but the late rally came after Long Island built an eight-run lead. The Ducks now lead the series 2-0.
Source: Original report
