THE HUNTERDON COUNTY NEWS
- Breaking News -

08/22/08

TITLE: Blue Crabs Hand Patriots Sixth Straight Loss
DESCRIPTION:
Time: 10:49:05

ARTICLE

The  Southern Maryland Blue Crabs defeated the Somerset Patriots 5-3 in front of 2,766 fans at Regency Furniture Stadium on Thursday evening.

 
Southern Maryland struck first with an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead when second baseman Chris Maples drew a two out walk, advanced to second on a single to left by centerfielder Jeremy Owens and scored on a two base Patriots throwing error.
 
Somerset tied the game at 1-1 with a run in the top of the third inning when second baseman Teuris Olivares hit a lead off solo home run (5) to left.
 
The Blue Crabs answered with three runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. Designated hitter Curtis Pride and third baseman Patrick Osborn drew two out walks and came around to score on a two run double to left center by first baseman Clinton Johnston. Johnston would come around to score on a bloop RBI single to center by Maples.
 
The Patriots plated a run in the top of the fourth inning to cut the Blue Crabs lead to 4-2 when third baseman Brandon Larson drew a one out walk, advanced to third on a single to right by first baseman Josh Pressley and scored on a two out bloop RBI single to left by designated hitter Jason Belcher.
 
Somerset made it a 4-3 game with a run in the top of the eighth inning. The Patriots loaded the bases on a lead off single to center by leftfielder Mike Lockwood, a one out single to right by Pressley and a single to left by rightfielder Matt Hagen. Belcher then drove in Lockwood with an RBI single to right.
 
Southern Maryland added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning to make it 5-3. Osborn led off with a single to left and moved to third on a walk to Johnston . After a sacrifice bunt by leftfielder James Shanks, Osborn scored on a Patriots fielding error on a ground ball to short off the bat of Maples.
 
Blue Crabs’ starter Ryan Bicondoa (11-5) picked up the win, allowing three runs on ten hits while striking out six and walking one in 7.2 innings of work. Patriots’ starter Jim Magrane (5-10) suffered the loss, allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits while walking three and striking out seven in six innings pitched. Blue Crabs’ reliever Kenny Baugh pitched the final 1.1 for his first save of the year.
 
With the loss the Patriots dropped to 17-22 in the second half and 57-52 overall on 2008 season while the Blue Crabs improved to 21-18 and 57-52.
 
The 2008 Somerset Patriots season presented by Ford will continue on the road until Tuesday, August 26th when the Patriots return to Commerce Bank Ballpark for a 7:05 pm game against the York Revolution. The game includes Rulers (1st 1,500 Kids) presented by Staffing Alternatives. Great seats are available by stopping by the Patriots Ticket Office located at the ballpark, by calling (908) 252-0700, or on-line at www.somersetpatriots.com.