Patriots Double Up Against Blue Crabs

Added by Philip Mathew on August 12, 2012.

While the Somerset Patriots have struggled to produce runs, the perfect recipe looks to be playing the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.  The Patriots would win both games of the double header, surrendering one run in the contests.

In the first game of a double header, the Somerset Patriots continued the run-scoring momentum by using the long ball, winning the game 5-1.

Yunesky Sanchez, who has been hitting well recently, went 3-3 in game one.  His first hit was an RBI double after second baseman Freddie Bynum led off with a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a Colin Curtis groundout.  Sanchez would come around after first baseman Jeff Nettles doubled to left, giving Somerset a 2-0 lead.

Southern Maryland would answer in the next half inning, after Jesse Gutierrez homered off Patriots starter Derell McCall, cutting the lead to 2-1.  The Blue Crabs would challenge multiple times later in the game, but came away empty after this.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, left fielder Johnny Drennen continued his solid production since returning from the DL with a home run to right field and catcher Yusuf Carter followed with a home run to left field.

Somerset was up 4-1 and the Blue Crabs had no answer for McCall, who gave up two hits in five innings, striking out four, walking three and giving up one run.  Sanchez came up in the bottom half of the fifth inning and homered to left field, continuing his recent hot streak.  The final score of game one was 5-1 and McCall earned his sixth win and Gannon lost his second game.

In game two, the teams battled multiple rain delays, but Somerset took advantage of a three-error third inning.  With two down, Freddie Bynum reached on a throwing error by Blue Crab shortstop Pablo Figueroa.

Bynum took second after starter Daryl Thompson threw the ball away trying to keep Bynum on.  Curtis would respond with an RBI double to right field, scoring Bynum.  Sanchez would reach after Blue Crab center fielder Jeremy Owens dropped a routine fly ball, scoring Curtis and increasing the lead to 2-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, Patriots third baseman Dan DeGeorge led off with a double and Dan Hennigan, who came in after a couple innings to replace Bynum at second base, hit an RBI single.  The 3-0 score would stay, with Southern Maryland only mustering three hits in the game.  Andy Sisco would earn the win, after pitching one inning, striking out and walking one.  Thompson took the loss, giving three hits and two runs in three innings worked.

Somerset and Southern Maryland will finish their four-game set tomorrow with a 5:05 p.m. start, with scheduled pitchers Justin Cassel (Patriots) and Nick Green (Blue Crabs).  The home stand continues against York, starting on Monday.