August

I did not realize that I had gotten so far behind in my game recaps. I have missed the majority of the month of August as I have been preparing to return to school and taking driving lessons. Rather then bombard my blog with 30 posts at once I will use this post to recap the 8 series I have missed and hopefully will be able to get back to posting after every game. I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused for my readers and hope that this will be the best approach to making up lost ground. I have tried to update on the happenings of the team as far as transactions and trades. I will create a post shortly about the current roster and update on the players who have reached the minor league.

Series Recaps

July 30th - Away Verses Long Island

The Blue Crabs defeated the Ducks 6-2.


July 31st - August 2nd - Home Verses Lancaster

Game 1- Win 5-1
Game 2- Loss 7-6
Game 3- Rain out, to be made up 9/19 at Lancaster

Highlights- The Blue Crabs dominated in the first game, with 3 RBIs coming from Richard Giannotti while pitcher Mike O'Connor shut down the Barnstormers. The second game was not so good to the Crabs. They got out to an early lead but were ultimately the losers in 13 innings of play. It was Jason LaVorgna's first lost, after giving up the game winning solo homerun in the top of the 13th.


August 3rd - August 6th - Away Verses Bridgeport

Game 1- Win 7-2
Game 2- Loss 15-3
Game 3- Win 7-5
Game 4- Win 3-1

Highlights- After being one hit through the first 5.1 innings of the first game, a 3 run blast by Patrick Osborn awoke the bats of the Crabs propelling them towards the 7-2 win. The second game saw the bluefish more then double the number of hits of the Blue Crabs. But the third and forth games saw the Blue Crabs reclaim their winning ways. Again the Blue Crabs were held scoreless through 5 in the third game but found a way to come back and win, shutting down the Bluefish offense down in the last 3 innings. The forth game saw all the offense come in the second inning and proved to be enough at the Crabs outscore the Fish 3-1 in the inning. The hero being again Richard Giannotti who had a two run double off the first base bag.


August 7th - August 9th - Home Verses Camden

Game 1- Loss 5-3
Game 2- Loss 6-5
Game 3- Loss 6-4

Highlights- We were unfortunately swept by Camden at home.


August 11th - August 13th - Home Verses Long Island

Game 1- Win 4-1
Game 2- Win 12-7
Game 3- Win 7-3

Highlights - We swept our rivals Long Island, very little is sweeter then doing that. An 8th inning Rally gave the Crabs the win, getting 3 runs from 4 consecutive singles and a ground out. The Second game saw the Blue Crabs offense explode getting 6 runs in the bottom of the first and seeing 4 different hitters (Rambo, Ozzie, Harvey and Owens) get bombs. The third game completed the sweep keep the ducks scoreless until the 7th. Rambo had another homerun going the distance in back to back games.


August 14th - August 16th - Away Verses Bridgeport

Game 1- Win 3-2
Game 2- Loss 9-5
Game 3- Win 3-1

Highlights - Jeremy Owens as a pinch hitter had two run homers in extras to win the game in the first game, and again as a pinch hitter in regulation had a two run bomb to win the third game.


August 17th - August 19th - Away Verses York

Game 1- Win 4-3
Game 2- Loss 7-6
Game 3- Win 8-1

Highlights - This was the first series the Blue Crabs have had against the York Revolution since seeing Hitting Coach Andy Etchebarren depart to become York's new manager. The win for York against the Crabs was also Andy's first win as manager. The third game of the season was cut short due to rain but didn't dampen the Blue Crabs explosive offense.


August 20th - August 23rd - Home Verses Newark

Game 1- Win 9-7
Game 2- Win 10-4
Game 3- Rained out, to be made up 9/15
Game 4- Win 6-4

Highlights - We swept Newark at home increasing our win streak to 4 games overall, and 6 of our last home games. The forth game saw Blue Crabs new comer and rookie Trae Bailey score his first professional run in a pinch running appearance in the bottom of the 8th.


August 24th - August 26th - Away Verses Somerset

Game 1- Win 7-6
Game 2- Win 6-5
Game 3- Win 9-4

Highlights - In what very well may have been a preview of the Championship Series, the Blue Crabs were by far the more impressive team, coming from behind in the first two games before dominating the third. The first game was a back and forth battle, seeing the Blue Crabs get out to an early lead before Somerset would take the lead back. This back and forth dance continued until the 5th when the Patriots were only able to tie the game rather then regain the lead. The game would go into extras where in the top of tenth the Blue Crabs would get the game winning run after James Shanks got on via a fielder's choice and scored on a RBI double hit by Michael Tucker. The second game would always go into extras, this time taking 12 innings to find a result. Down 4-0 in the 8th and having had only 1 hit through most of the game. The rally started in the bottom of the 9th when Mike Just was walked, and then scored on a Michael Tucker Homer. Ken Harvey would then walk and be pinch run for by Anthony Perry, while Jeremy Owens would also be walked. Both runners would score on a 2-RBI double hit by Richard Giannotti. In the top of the 12th Mike Just would again start the rally, singling with two outs. Patrick Osborn would shut the door, hitting a homerun to bring the Crabs into their first lead of the game. The final game of the series was much less dramatic, though from the beginnings it appeared to be following the same path. Trae Bailey got his first professional start, going 0-3 with a walk and a run scored, while fielding 100%. After a solo homerun by Jeremy Owens to tie the game in the second it appeared as though it would be another low scoring pitchers duel. Things would change however in the 3rd, when the Crabs would send 11 batters to the plate and score six runs. In his first professional plate appearance Trae Bailey would be walked following a walk issued to Chuck Jeroloman. James Shanks would single to score Jeroloman, while Michael Tucker would walk to load the bases. Tare would score on a single hit by Ken Harvey, while James would score on a single by Jeremy Owens. Michael Tucker would then score on a single by Octavio Martinez. Captain Jeremy Owens would then score on a wild pitch for the 6th run of the inning. The Patriots would not be able to come back from 6 runs down, but the never quitting Blue Crabs would add two runs in the 7th for extra insurance. After Patrick Osborn singled, Ken Harvey doubled and then both runners scored on a double by Jeremy Owens.


Tomorrow the Blue Crabs play at home to face the Bridgeport Bluefish. The Blue Crabs are currently first in their division, with 7 game leads over both the Bluefish and the Ducks. If the playoffs were to start tomorrow, the Crabs would face the Ducks while the Patriots would face the Bears.