A Pitcher's Duel Works to The Advantage of the Crabs

In yet another low scoring game the Blue Crabs found a way to get the win tonight. After the first 11 batters had been sat down in order by the two starters, John Halama would give up the first single of the night in the bottom of the second.

Halama pitched in his 9th game of the season and improved his record to 8-1 with the win. He pitched 8 innings giving up 6 hits, 1 run that was earned, and he struck out one batter and walked no one. After giving up a lead off double in the 3rd inning, the runner Michael Sandoval would advance to 3rd on a sacrifice bunt and then come into score on a sacrifice fly hit by Newark newcomer Felix Martinez. That would be the only run given up by the Blue Crabs. To close out the game and get his league leading 12th save of the season Jim Ed Warden pitched a scoreless 9th giving up a single and striking out one batter.

Offensively the Blue Crabs were kept quite until the 6th. After singling in his first at bat, second baseman Mike Just would lead off the 6th with another single, followed by a single by tonight's right fielder Richard Giannotti. Giannotti would move to second on a fielding error by his counterpart Jay Gibbons and Just would move to third. Travis Garcia who had yet to have a hit in tonight's game brought in both runs for the Game Winning RBI after he hit a stand up double. This extends his hit streak to 17 games making him more then halfway to the record set by York's Chris Ashby last season. A run of insurance came in the 7th when catcher Lance Burkhart would be walked and come in to score on a James Shanks single. Not in action tonight was everyday First Baseman Eric Crozier, only his 3rd day off of the season. He is normally substituted by catcher Octavio Martinez however since placing bullpen catcher Anthony Perry on the Inactive List the non-playing catcher has had to catch the bullpen on the road so Third Baseman Patrick Osborn filled in at first. Chuck Jeroloman played at third and after having a long hitting strike, he has yet to hit in his last 5 starts. Collectively the Blue Crabs were stuck out 9 times, 7 of which came off of Newark Starter Bobby Brownlie. Second Baseman and former Newark Bear Mike Just was the only Blue Crabs player to have a multiple hit game.

In other Blue Crabs News: With the win the Blue Crabs advance their lead over everyone, moving to 4.0 games over Long Island, 4.5 games over Camden and 8.5 games over Bridgeport. They have tomorrow off and then look to face the Freedom Division first place team and defending champions Somerset Patriots in a three game series starting Tuesday. Tuesday's predicted starter for the Blue Crabs is knuckleballer Joe Gannon. He is 3-5 on the season with 7 starts; he has a 4.94 ERA and pitched in two complete games. He has surrendered 54 hits, 30 run 26 of which were earned, and 4 homeruns. Not including new starter Edward Rodriguez, Joe has the 3rd lowest opponent’s average, and is the only starter to have not hit a batter.