Southern Maryland 3, High Point 2

(7/15/2022, High Point, NC) The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs traded three runs with three outs in tonight’s 3-2 win over the High Point Rockers.  The pitching led the way for Southern Maryland, as Daryl Thompson (W, 9-2) pitched 7 innings, allowing just one earned run. 

 The Blue Crabs got the scoring started in the second inning off of Creg Stem (L, 2-3).  David Harris reached on an error by the third baseman Michael Russell, before the Blue Crabs added a pair of singles, loading the bases.  The next batter, Ryan Haug, lifted a fly ball to left field for a sacrifice fly, scoring Harris and giving the Blue Crabs a 1-0 lead. 

 In the fifth inning, with the Blue Crabs still ahead 1-0, David Harris reached first on another error by Michael Russell, before Alex Crosby and Zach Collier picked up hits.  The Blue Crabs had the bases loaded with no outs when Joe Deluca lined out to right field, allowing Harris to score and advancing Crosby to third base with one out.  The next batter, Ryan Haug bounced out to second base, scoring Crosby to give the Blue Crabs a 3-0 lead.  

 Daryl Thompson had allowed only 2 hits across the first six innings but ran into trouble in the seventh.  The Rockers knocked three hits in the seventh, scoring one run, to cut the deficit to 3-1. 

 After a scoreless eighth from Endrys Briceno, Mat Latos (S, 20) entered in the ninth inning.  He surrendered back-to-back hits, before recording an out.  With one out and runners on second and third, Jerry Downs lined out to left field, scoring Quincy Latimore from third base.  Latos closed out the ballgame on the next batter, inducing a groundout to shortstop to end the game, giving the Blue Crabs a 3-2 win. 

 Southern Maryland moves to 6-4 in the second half and 54-22 overall with the win tonight.  The Blue Crabs are back in action tomorrow as Alex Merithew gets the start for the Blue Crabs. 

Kentucky 5, Long Island 0

(Lexington, Ky., July 15, 2022) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes 5-0 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game weekend series from Wild Health Field.

 The Genomes jumped out in front 3-0 against Ducks starting pitcher Anderson DeLeon courtesy of a one-out, bases-clearing double off the bat of Anderson Miller. Wild Health made it 5-0 in their favor one inning later thanks to solo home runs produced by Khris Davis onto the Pepsi Party Porch in right field and a Samir Duenez blast to right center field.

 The run support was more than enough for Genomes starter and winning pitcher Dustin Beggs (6-4), who fired seven scoreless innings on just a pair of hits allowed, walking three and striking out four. DeLeon (3-4) was tagged with the loss, surrendering five runs on five hits (two home runs) in six innings of work, walking four and striking out five. The visitors threatened in the fourth and fifth innings as the leadoff batter reached base in both frames but Long Island was never able to cash in on either opportunity as they were shutout for just the fifth time on the 2022 campaign. De Aza had a double and a walk for the Ducks in four plate appearances in the losing effort for the Flock.

 The Ducks and Genomes continue their three-game set on Saturday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. from Wild Health Field. Fans can follow all the action on the Long Island Ducks Broadcast Network. Live streaming HD video and audio will be available via BoxCast on LIDucks.com as well as on the Ducks official Facebook page and YouTube channel. Right-hander Akeel Morris (4-5, 5.03) takes the mound for the Ducks against Genomes righty Max Povse (4-6, 6.95).

Lexington at Gastonia suspended

The Friday game vs Gastonia and Lexington was suspended after six innings, with the game squared at 1-1.

The suspended game will resume at 4:15 pm tomorrow, with Lexington batting in the top of the 7th inning. Courtney Hawkins will lead off against a Gastonia reliever.

Tomorrow´s regularly scheduled game will begin as planned at 6:15 pm, as Ian McKinney will match up against Jalen Miller.

Staten Island 9, York 5

STATEN ISLAND, NY— The Staten Island FerryHawks scored eight runs in the final four innings Friday night at PeoplesBank Park, downing the Revolution in the series-opener, 9-5. The FerryHawks sent eight batters to the plate in the sixth and seventh innings to overcome a deficit and then break a tie before collecting their eighth second-half win in 10 tries.  

 FerryHawks starter Dakota Freese and Revolution starter Jorge Martinez each tossed their first three innings scoreless on Friday, before both teams cracked the scoreboard in the fourth frame. Mariel Bautista belted a two-out solo home run to start the scoring, before the Revolution responded quickly with a two-run bottom-of-the-fourth inning blast from Josue Herrera to grab a 2-1 lead.  

 Staten Island vaulted ahead in the sixth inning during an eight-batter three-run rally to knock Martinez out of the game. A double by Ricardo Cespedes and walks to both Bautista and Javier Betancourt loaded the bases for Andres Noriega. The catcher knocked a single up the middle to score two and give Staten Island a 3-2 lead. Alfredo Reyes’ single pushed home Betancourt and earned the ‘Hawks a 4-2 advantage. 

 Freese recorded two outs in the sixth inning, but was removed for Eddy Reynoso after a walk to Jack Kenley. After a double by Connor Lien put two in scoring position and the tying run on second, the FerryHawks mismanaged an infield pop-up by Lenin Rodriguez. Betancourt, Noriega, and Reynoso all converged to the left of home plate, but the ball went in and out of Betancourt’s glove. The error allowed the Revolution to tie the game 4-4.  

 Freese gave up six hits and three runs (two earned) over his 5.2 innings. He struck out four and walked four in his 11thstart of the season.  

 Martinez gave up six hits and four runs over his 5.2 innings. He whiffed seven and walked three. 

The FerryHawks broke the game open in the seventh inning on two plays that each produced two runs. Facing Tuck Tucker, who had not allowed a run in his first six appearances this season, Staten Island got a walk from Herrera and a single from Aguilar, before a two-strike sacrifice bunt by Cespedes pushed a pair into scoring position. For the second straight night, Rusney Castillo delivered a two-run single, this one pushing the FerryHawks back in front, 6-4. The rally continued after a Bautista single put runners on the corners for Betancourt. The FerryHawks third baseman ambushed Tucker’s first offer and lined it to centerfield where Connor Lien misplayed the ball for a two-base error. The blunder brought in both Castillo and Bautista and gave the ‘Hawks an 8-4 cushion after seven innings.  

 The North Division foes matched each other with a one run each in the eighth inning, setting up Victor Capellan in a non-save situation in the bottom-of-the ninth inning. For the 18thconsecutive time, the FerryHawks closer did not allow a run, issuing a perfect ninth for the second straight night.  

 Staten Island (26-49) meets York on Saturday evening for the middle game of their three-game series. LHP Anthony Rodriguez matches up with LHP Austin Nicely with first pitch at PeoplesBank Park scheduled for 6:30 PM.     

 Postgame Notes: Ricardo Cespedes extended his hitting streak to a franchise-best 12 games...Mariel Bautista finished (3-for-3, HR, 2B, RBI) Four FerryHawks recorded multi-hit games (Monge, Cespedes, Bautista, Noriega)... 

Charleston 8, Lancaster 4

LANCASTER, Pa. - For the first time in the last 12 home games, the Lancaster Barnstormers came out on the short end.

 Alfredo Gonzalez launched two of four Charleston home runs as the Dirty Birds ended Lancaster’s home winning streak at 11 with an 8-4 victory Friday evening at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

 The loss dropped Lancaster (8-2) back into a first place tie with Staten Island in the second half.

 In the first, Lancaster starter Augie Syly appeared to be out of the inning, but a two-out ground ball by Engel Beltre was bobbled by shortstop Jake Hoover.  Gonzalez followed with a three-run homer as Charleston jumped ahead, 3-0.

 Lancaster fought back, with the help of Ryan Lawlor’s wildness.  Shawon Dunston, Jr. walked to open the game for the Barnstormers and took third on a hit-and-run single by Melvin Mercedes.  He would score on a sacrifice fly to left by Andretty Cordero.  Anthony Peroni led off the second with a double to left and took third on a single by Trace Loehr.  A series of three Lawlor wild pitches then produced the two runs to forge a tie.

 The Barnstormers would take their only lead of the night in the bottom of the fourth as Loehr and Dunston teamed up with a pair of doubles around a walk to Torrence.  However, the Barnstormers would manage just one hit the rest of the night.

 Jose Rosario’s homer onto the right field deck in the fifth tied the game, and the Dirty Birds went ahead to stay in the sixth.  With one out, Gonzalez singled into center off Chase Johnson (2-7).  A passed ball by catcher Anthony Peroni allowed Gonzalez to take second, and he scored on a single to right by Tyler Blaum.  Blaum continued on the bases as the ball skipped by right fielder Anderson Feliz, but a perfect relay cut him down at third.

 Nick Heath added a solo shot in the eighth, and Gonzalez capped the scoring with his second homer of the night, a two-run blast off Bret Clarke in the ninth.

 Nate Peden (2-1, 2-4) threw two shutout innings to pick up the win.

 Lancaster will host Charleston again on Saturday evening with Cameron Gann (4-6) matching up against RHP Gavin Weyman (0-0).  Fireworks will follow the Holidays in July promotion.  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube channel, starting at 6:10 with a special pre-game interview with manager Ross Peeples.

 NOTES:  Melvin Mercedes extended his hitting streak to 13 with his single in the first…Dunston has hit safely in seven in a row…Loehr reached base on six straight appearances before grounding out in the sixth…Sylk filled in for Brooks Hall, whose contract was purchased by the New York Mets following the Thursday night game.