Crabs Set Team Season Runs Record in 5-4 Win Over Peppers

De Aza drives in three runs, Virbitsky records quality start to win series

W: Kyle Virbitsky (11-7)

L: Ryan Williamson (2-1)

WALDORF, MD – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (28-22, 69-44) set the franchise record for runs scored in a season during a 5-4 win over the Gastonia Ghost Peppers (27-24, 65-49) on Sunday afternoon at Regency Furniture Stadium. The Crabs broke the previous record of 759 runs scored which was set back in 2009. Alejandro De Aza drove in the run during a three-hit day while Kyle Virbitsky turned in a quality start.

As had been the trend this week, Gastonia scored first in the top of the second inning on a Chris Proctor sacrifice fly. Chandler Seagle extended the advantage to 2-0 in the top of the third inning with a solo home run to lead off the frame.

Alejandro De Aza didn’t wait long to find a solo home run of his own, doing so in the bottom of the third inning. His 356-foot homer was his sixth of the season as it put Southern Maryland on the board. Ethan Wilson kept the Crabs going in the fourth inning with an RBI double to tie the game at 2-2.

Blue Crabs starting pitcher Kyle Virbitsky notched his seventh quality start of the season and his first since July 28. Over six innings, he allowed two runs on four hits. For the first time since July 16, he did not allow a walk. He crossed the 100 strikeout mark with three punchouts, reaching 101 strikeouts on the season.

The Blue Crabs took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the sixth inning. Wilson led off the inning with a 375-foot solo home run to left field, his 12th homer of the season. Ryan McCarthy followed with a double and he scored on an RBI double by De Aza, setting the franchise single-season record with the team’s 760th run and giving the Blue Crabs a 4-2 lead.

De Aza delivered another key hit in the eighth inning with an RBI single to extend the Blue Crabs lead to 5-2. That proved critical after Gastonia scored two runs in the ninth inning on a two-run double by Chris Proctor. The gap proved to be too wide as Blue Crabs relief pitcher Endrys Briceno held on for the 5-4 win.

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs have been proud members of the Atlantic League since 2008, the fourth-longest tenured team in the league. With a proud tradition of success on and off the field, many players have found a home while playing in front of Crustacean Nation, the nickname for the Blue Crabs’ avid fanbase. A host of former Major Leaguers have played for the Blue Crabs, including Chien-Ming Wang, Pat Mahomes Sr., and team legend Daryl Thompson. Many players have also made it to the Major Leagues after playing with Southern Maryland, including Isaac Mattson of the Pittsburgh Pirates. 2026 marks the 18th season of Blue Crabs baseball at Regency Furniture Stadium, where Clawsome Times Await.