The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs dropped their second straight decision to the Newark Bears on Saturday night, by a 3-1 score.  The Bears improved to an Atlantic League best 10-4, while the Blue Crabs dropped to 8-6 overall.  Former Baltimore Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons hit a solo home run in the first inning for Newark, and Southern Maryland’s Jeremy Owens extended his hit streak to 10 games with a double in the sixth inning in defeat.

The Blue Crabs will next be in action Sunday afternoon at home at Regency Furniture Stadium against Newark for the final game of this three game series.  First pitch is at 2:05 p.m., and the stadium gates will open at 1:00 p.m.  Scheduled starters are right-hander Ryan Bicondoa (0-1, 6.97) for Southern Maryland, and righty Ryan Bukvich (2-0, 1.35) for Newark.

Saturday’s game recap …

Newark took the lead 1-0 with two out in the first inning on the Gibbons home run, which was off Blue Crabs starter Kenny Baugh to the lawn section at Regency Furniture Stadium in right field.  The Bears extended the lead to 3-0 after a bases loaded two- RBI single by leadoff man Kevin Thompson in the fourth inning, with Baugh also on the mound.  Other than those two rough patches, Baugh was solid in defeat for Southern Maryland.  His final line was six innings pitched, allowing seven hits, three earned runs, walking two and striking out two.

The only Blue Crabs run of the night came in the sixth inning.  With one out Owens doubled off the wall in left field, and came home a batter later when Mike Conroy doubled himself, also off the left field wall.  It was of little consequence to Newark though, as they would never trail in the ballgame.  Starter Oneli Perez picked up the win for the Bears, tossing five and a third innings, allowing five hits, and the one earned run on the back-to-back doubles.  Perez walked three and struck out three.

Lefty Corey Willey picked up his first save of the season for Newark, coming in with one out in the ninth and retiring the two batters in order, striking out Owens to end it.  Another capacity crowd of 5,341 fans witnessed the ballgame, the second capacity crowd in a row on this homestand.  For the Blue Crabs, it was their fifth such crowd in nine openings this season.

Blue Crabs third baseman Patrick Osborn missed the game with a shoulder strain.  The injury is not serious however, and Osborn should return to the lineup during this six-game homestand.  Osborn will return to the Blue Crabs lineup on Tuesday at the earliest when the Blue Crabs host the Long Island Ducks for a three-game series through Thursday.  There is a chance his return will come later however.  Chuck Jeroloman replaced Osborn at third on Saturday night.  For Osborn, it was the first game this season where he did not start at third and bat cleanup.  Osborn is batting .347 with two home runs and 10 RBI so far this season.