The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs used 15 hits and a five-run fifth inning to defeat the Lexington Legends, 8-5, Tuesday night at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland. Jordan Thompson went 4-for-4 at the plate, and all nine players in the Blue Crabs lineup reached base safely.
The victory gave the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs three consecutive wins. The Blue Crabs entered the game with a 58-37 overall record and a 17-15 Atlantic League record, while the Lexington Legends entered at 44-52 overall and 18-15 in league play.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Build Lead With Five-Run Fifth
Both teams scored in the first inning. Xane Washington led off with a single for Lexington and later scored on a wild pitch by Southern Maryland starting pitcher Connor Overton, while Alejandro De Aza scored for the Blue Crabs after reaching on a leadoff single and advancing on a throwing error by Lexington second baseman Gabe Howell.
Southern Maryland took the lead in the third inning when Ezequiel Pagan doubled and scored on an Ethan Wilson RBI single. Thompson extended the advantage in the fourth inning with a 415-foot solo home run, his third homer of the season.
The Blue Crabs broke the game open with five runs in the fifth inning. Taylor Darden started the scoring with a solo home run, his eighth of the season and first since returning to the club. Phillip Sikes, Thompson and De Aza followed with RBI singles as Southern Maryland took an 8-1 lead.
Connor Overton Earns Win for Southern Maryland
Overton earned the win after allowing three runs, one earned, over 5.2 innings. He allowed four hits, walked three, threw a wild pitch and struck out five Lexington hitters.
Lexington cut into the lead in the sixth inning after a two-out error by Brody Fahr extended the inning. Jackson Feltner and Patrick Sanchez followed with back-to-back RBI doubles to reduce Southern Maryland’s advantage to 8-3.
The Legends moved within three runs again in the seventh inning when Curtis Terry hit a two-run home run against Southern Maryland relief pitcher Franny Cobos. Isaac Fix recorded the final out of the inning, and Ethan Hammerberg struck out the side on 10 pitches in the eighth.
Endrys Briceno closed the game with a perfect ninth inning. The save was his ninth of the season and the 51st of his Atlantic League Professional Baseball career.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Continue Series Wednesday
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs and Lexington Legends will continue their six-game series Wednesday, August 12, at Regency Furniture Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Wednesday is Woof Wednesday at Regency Furniture Stadium, with a pet-friendly atmosphere. The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs have been members of the Atlantic League since 2008.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs controlled the game with a 15-hit performance and five-run fifth inning. Thompson’s four-hit night, including his third home run of the season, led the offense, while Darden’s solo homer started the decisive rally.
Overton earned the win, and the Blue Crabs bullpen protected the three-run advantage after Lexington scored twice in the seventh. Southern Maryland’s third consecutive victory sets up Wednesday’s series continuation at Regency Furniture Stadium.
Source: Original report
