Crabs Catcher Tyler Davis celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run in the second inning during the Humboldt Crabs season opening game against the Humboldt Eagles on June 3, 2022 on the way to a 13-0 victory.
Even before the first pitch was thrown or the first batter stepped up to home plate, it was clear Arcata was ready for baseball to be back. The line stretched down F Street outside of the ballpark through the opening innings as over 1,100 fans made their way inside to watch the Humboldt Crabs open the 2022 season against the Humboldt Eagles after their original opponents the Ventura Pirates had to cancel.
While fans got themselves settled in, returning Crabs pitcher and Eureka native Caleb Ruiz also got himself settled in on the mound to start the season with a lights-out performance. Ruiz put up an excellent outing on the evening, striking out six batters in five innings of work while giving up only two hits and zero runs.
After retiring the first of the Eagles batters, the new for 2022 Crabs roster showed that like last year, fans may be in for an offensive treat this summer. Following a leadoff walk, Second Baseman Nick Salas scored the first run of the year on a Cory Arbolida single to kick off what would end up being a five run first inning for the Crabs.
Arbolida proved that his first RBI of the season certainly wouldn’t be his last by any means, following it up with the first home run of the season in the second inning with a blast that rocketed over the left field fence and onto Highway 101.
Arbolida’s home run not only sparked the cheers of the crowd and his teammates but what appears to be the start of a new tradition this season in the dugout. As teammates flooded around him after crossing home plate, a bright blue crab on a matching blue chain was placed around his neck for the celebrations.
The crab chain found its way around the dugout two more times that night as catcher Tyler Davis followed Arbolida up in the same inning with another bomb onto the freeway to keep the momentum going. Arbolida himself launched another ball over the left field fence into traffic to the enjoyment of the fans for his second home run of the game in the third inning to increase the Crabs’ lead at the time to 8-0.
While the Eagles managed to largely stem the flow of Crabs offense, giving up just only two runs after the first three innings were complete, the majority of the damage was already done. Behind Ruiz’s impressive start and the work or relief pitchers Nick Perryman and Hayden Bode, the Crabs completed their nine-inning shutout win over the Eagles to start their season with a victory. As a pitching staff, Ruiz, Peryyman and Body allowed just four hits while striking out 12 batters on the way to the 13-0 win.
The Crabs were due to play the Alameda Cardinals on Saturday and Sunday, however the weather had other plans. Saturday’s game was initially pushed back for a double header on Sunday but that too was rained out before the games could begin. Instead, the Crabs will hit the road for a two-game series in Oregon to take on the Medford Rogues away on Tuesday and Wednesday before returning home to play the San Luis Obispo Blues for the weekend series on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
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