Rojas Delivers Two Walk-Offs as Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Sweep Doubleheader
WALDORF, Md. — Carlos Rojas starred for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Saturday night at Regency Furniture Stadium, delivering two walk-off singles that propelled the team to a doubleheader sweep over the Charleston Dirty Birds. The Blue Crabs snapped a season-long four-game skid with a 6-5 win in nine innings during game one and followed with a dramatic 9-8 comeback victory in game two, improving their Atlantic League record to 7-7.
Game One: Blue Crabs Escape Extra Innings with Rojas Walk-Off
Southern Maryland took an early lead against Charleston starting pitcher Keyvius Sampson in game one. Dylan Hoy doubled to start the bottom of the first, followed by Alejandro De Aza’s single. Danny Bautista Jr. contributed with an RBI groundout to bring Hoy home, and Ezequiel Pagan added an RBI double scoring De Aza. Ethan Wilson capped the rally with an RBI single to give the Blue Crabs a 3-0 advantage.
The Dirty Birds responded immediately in the second inning. After a single by Isaias Tejeda, Jhon Nunez launched a two-run homer to left field, cutting Southern Maryland’s lead to 3-2. The Blue Crabs regained a cushion in the third inning when Pagan hit his 10th home run of the season, a solo shot to right field, increasing the lead to 4-2.
Charleston again closed the gap in the fifth inning, with James Nelson reaching base on a throwing error by Blue Crabs starter Justin Sanchez and later scoring on an RBI double by Carlos De La Cruz. Relief pitcher Ethan Hammerberg secured a crucial strikeout in the inning to maintain the 4-3 Southern Maryland lead.
Sanchez delivered a solid start, pitching 4.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned), on five hits and one walk, with four strikeouts. The bullpen faced challenges as Wendell Rijo’s solo home run in the sixth tied the score at 4-4, marking the first homer allowed by Hammerberg this season.
Neither team could break the tie through the seventh inning, pushing the game into extra innings. Charleston took a 5-4 lead on a sacrifice fly by Nunez, but Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa, who earned the win, held the Dirty Birds scoreless the rest of the way. In the bottom of the eighth, Bautista Jr. tied the game with an RBI single. The ninth inning remained scoreless until Rojas came up in the bottom half and delivered a walk-off single to center field, sealing a 6-5 victory for the Blue Crabs.
Game Two: Overcoming a Five-Run Deficit, Rojas Hits Second Walk-Off
The second game began much differently, with Charleston erupting for five runs in the first inning. Narciso Crook highlighted the early offensive burst with a two-run home run off Blue Crabs starter Greg Minier. Southern Maryland quickly responded in the bottom of the first with RBI hits from Bautista Jr., Ethan Wilson, and Jordan Thompson, along with a Charleston fielding error to narrow the deficit to 5-4.
Charleston added an additional run in the top of the second thanks to a solo homer by James Nelson. Southern Maryland answered emphatically later in the inning. Phillip Sikes hit a two-run homer off Charleston’s Jordan Jackson, marking his team-leading 11th home run of the season. Wilson’s RBI triple and Thompson’s single gave the Crabs an 8-6 lead after two innings.
Minier settled down after the rough start to pitch four innings in total, allowing six runs on eight hits but striking out six batters. Blue Crabs relievers battled through the middle innings as the offenses quieted down until Charleston reclaimed the lead in the seventh. Carlos De La Cruz opened the inning with a solo homer off reliever Ethan Bates, followed by sacrifice flies from Javier Crespo and Jaylen Smith to make the score 8-7 in favor of the Dirty Birds.
The Blue Crabs responded with a furious rally in the bottom of the seventh. After loading the bases through a walk, single, and hit-by-pitch, Carlos Rojas was called upon as a pinch hitter and delivered once again. His two-run walk-off single to center field gave Southern Maryland a 9-8 comeback victory and completed the doubleheader sweep.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs: Season Context and Outlook
Saturday’s victories ended a four-game losing streak and improved the Blue Crabs’ overall record to 7-7 in 2024, currently sitting with a 48-29 record in Atlantic League history. The Blue Crabs have been Atlantic League members since 2008, playing their home games at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland. The stadium is known as the home of Clawsome Times and enjoys strong support from “Crustacean Nation,” the team’s passionate fan base.
Southern Maryland boasts a rich history of players who have reached Major League Baseball, including Isaac Mattson of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and former Major Leaguers like Chien-Ming Wang and Pat Mahomes Sr. The team continues to develop talent and entertain fans with competitive baseball in the independent professional circuit.
The Blue Crabs will complete their six-game series against the Charleston Dirty Birds with a single game on Friday, July 18, at Regency Furniture Stadium. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. The game will also feature family-friendly activities, including Kids Run the Bases and player autograph sessions. UFC star and Southern Maryland native Sodiq Yusuff is scheduled to throw out the first pitch. Tickets are available for purchase here.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Carlos Rojas’ heroics stands out in Southern Maryland Blue Crabs’ victory narrative this weekend. Delivering two walk-off hits in a doubleheader requires composure and clutch hitting—qualities that bode well for the Blue Crabs as the season progresses. After a shaky start and midseason losing streak, Southern Maryland has shown resilience and the ability to generate timely offense under pressure.
The pitching staff outside of Jonathan Sanchez and Greg Minier will need to tighten up to sustain consistent success, especially in limiting home runs and managing late-inning situations, an area that allowed Charleston to rally in both games. Meanwhile, Rojas and power hitters like Phillip Sikes and Ezequiel Pagan provide a potent lineup that can quickly change the course of a game.
As the Atlantic League season unfolds, Regency Furniture Stadium remains a fortress where “Clawsome Times” deliver for fans. The Blue Crabs’ dual walk-off wins highlight the excitement independent baseball brings to Southern Maryland, further entrenching this community’s love for the game.
Following the remaining series games, the Blue Crabs will look to build momentum and improve their standing in the Atlantic League Eastern Division. Continued contributions from key players and improved bullpen performances will be critical as Southern Maryland strives for postseason contention.
Photo Credit: Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Official Website
For additional coverage on the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, Charleston Dirty Birds, and Atlantic League baseball, see these Maryland Sports Blog
Source: Original report
