Huge Ninth Propels Southern Maryland

Blue Crabs Defeat Lancaster, 7-2

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs struck for six runs in an extended spring training bottom of the ninth inning, overturning a Barnstormers lead for a 7-2 victory Monday afternoon at Regency Furniture Stadium.

Scott Shuman walked Chad Hinshaw to open the Crabs ninth.  Hinshaw stole second and scored when Zach Cone doubled into the left field corner.  Patrick Palmeiro dropped a single into center to advance Cone to third.  The clinching run scored when Edwin Garcia’s bouncer to third was momentarily bobbled, and Cone beat the throw home.

The Blue Crabs continued to bat to allow Shuman to reach his pitch count.  Mike Blanke walked to load the bases.  Vladimir Frias made a dazzling stop on Kalaika Kahoohalahala’s sharp grounder up the middle, getting a force out at second, but the relay throw skipped past Blake Gailen as a fourth run scored.  Gary Brown doubled high off the left field wall, and Danny Muno singled to left center, producing additional runs.

Lancaster had trailed, 1-0, since a Muno homer off Brian Evans in the first inning but forged ahead in the eighth.  Blake Gailen led off with a single to left and moved up on a one-out walk to Lastings Milledge.  Tyler Clark ripped a single up the middle to tie the game at 1-1 and send Milledge to third.  Frias put the ‘Stormers into the lead with a sac fly to center.

The Barnstormers host the York Revolution at 1:00 on Tuesday afternoon in their final home game of the pre-season.

‘STORMERS HIGHLIGHTS:  Darian Sandford stole second and third in the seventh inning after reaching on a dropped third strike…He also made a superb diving catch against Zach Wilson in the fifth inning…Gailen had a double and a single…Anderson De La Rosa threw out Patrick Palmeiro trying to steal second base in the second inning…Elih Villanueva threw three scoreless innings on two singles…He struck out two.