The Humboldt Crabs will have revenge on their minds this week as they prepare for what club insiders have been calling a “murderer’s row” of games since the schedule was finalized almost half a year ago.

After the Western Tri-State Invitational concludes today, the Crabs will welcome the Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox to Arcata for a three-game stand on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a weekend stand with the Maxim Yankees beginning Friday night.

And the Crabs will be looking for redemption against both teams. The Gold Sox swept the Crabs in a four-game stand a year ago, while the perennially tough Yankees have now knocked the Crabs out of the Best in the West Tournament in Santa Clara in each of the past two seasons, both times scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

“It’s obviously the week we’ve had highlighted on our calendar all season, along with the Best of the West tournament,” said Crabs manager Matt Nutter. “I’m excited about it.”

The Crabs will carry some momentum into the big week, having won nine straight games heading into Saturday night’s tourney showdown with the Medford River Dogs and 15 of their past 16 games.

Saturday night’s game was delayed more than two hours because an earlier tournament game between the Sierra Bighorns and Redding Colt 45’s lasted almost five hours before the Colt 45’s won 4-2 in 15 innings.

The Crabs began their game at 10:30 p.m. and no final score was available at press time.

“I think it will be a pleasure for the fans,” Nutter said of the upcoming games. “I think you’ll see some quality baseball.”

Nutter admits he and his players will have some added motivation because of the opponents involved.

“Not only with the Yankees, but the Gold Sox as well. I’ve never been swept before except by the Gold Sox,” the third-year manager said. “And the Yankees have stuck it too us the last couple of years at the tournament. It’s always tough to play them.”

With upcoming series against the Corvallis Knights and Seaside Wildcats as well, the Crabs will be forced to play 11 games in a nine-day spell and that will put some pressure on a pitching staff that has been battling injuries this season.

To compensate, the Crabs have added two pitchers from the Humboldt Steelheads, Erik Bess and Steve Shamblin, both local players, as well as acquiring Scottie Walker from UC Davis for the final two weeks of the season.

Bess starred for the Crabs in 2005 and 2006, leading the team with 74 strikeouts in 60 innings during his final summer.

The Crabs will play the Redding Colt 45’s this afternoon at 4:15 to decide this weekend’s tourney championship.