Crabs Top Legends 4-2 Thanks to Strong Pitching

Jason Savacool tosses four no-hit innings, Ezequiel Pagan homers

W: Ethan Hammerberg (4-1) 

L: Caden Spivey (3-1)

SV: Endrys Briceno (10)

WALDORF, MD – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (18-17, 59-39) locked down a 4-2 win over the Lexington Legends (20-16, 46-53) on Friday night at Regency Furniture Stadium. Led by four no-hit innings by Jason Savacool, the Blue Crabs pitching staff held Lexington to just four hits. The bottom three hitters in the Southern Maryland lineup – Jackson Loftin, Stephen Paolini, and Ryan McCarthy – combined to go 4-for-7 with three doubles, three runs scored, and one RBI.

After two scoreless innings, the Blue Crabs struck first for the first time this week. The first three batters of the bottom of the third inning all recorded hits against Lexington starting pitcher Caden Spivey. Loftin started the inning with a double and Paolini followed with a bunt single. The two combined for a double steal to score Loftin. Paolini then came home on a McCarthy RBI double to give Southern Maryland a 2-0 lead.

Savacool completed four excellent innings as Southern Maryland’s starting pitcher, working to increase his workload after serving as a reliever earlier this season with the St. Louis organization. He did not surrender a hit, only allowing two walks.

The Crabs continued to extend their lead in the next two innings. In the fourth inning, Ezequiel Pagan blasted a 413-foot solo home run to right field, his 14th home run of the season, to stretch the Blue Crabs’ lead to 3-0. Alejandro De Aza added a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to bring Southern Maryland’s advantage to 4-0.

J.P. Massey continued Southern Maryland’s no-hit bid into the top of the sixth inning until Lexington P.J. Hilson hit a 425-foot solo home run to center field. The Legends added another run on a wild pitch to cut Southern Maryland’s lead in half at 4-2.

The Blue Crabs bullpen maintained the narrow two-run lead. Anthony Hoopii-Tuionetoa and Ethan Hammerberg both stranded two inherited runners to keep Southern Maryland’s advantage through eight innings. Endrys Briceno then tossed a scoreless ninth inning to secure the 52nd save of his Atlantic League career.

The Blue Crabs continue their six-game series against the Lexington Legends on Saturday, August 15 at Regency Furniture Stadium. First pitch is at 6:35 pm.

The Blue Crabs aim to Pink the Park during Strikeout Cancer Night. Any fan wearing pink can visit the box office to receive one complimentary ticket to the game. To purchase tickets, click here.

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.