Game Recap

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Behind the steady pitching of Heitor Correa and timely hitting from the Lakewood BlueClaws, they are able to split the two results in winning the second game of the two played on Thursday 5-2 against the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

The BlueClaws (4-4) started the scoring in the third inning of seven as D’Arby Myers led the inning hitting a double off the base of the wall in left field before being moved to third on a single by Korby Mintken. On that single, Mintken advanced to second on an error by the right fielder. The next play was a fly ball down the right side, Daniel Purtusati and Ben Lasater collided in making the catch, however both runners moved up, Myers scoring, and taking a 1-0 lead. Mintken then scored on a wild pitch to take a 2-0 lead.

The Grasshoppers (2-5) tallied in the third, as Kevin Mattison singled, stole second and advanced to third on a ground ball before scoring on a ground ball and making it 2-1.

The BlueClaws extended their advantage in the fifth as Troy Hanzawa started things off with a single and with two outs, Harold Garcia reached on an error. A single by Anthony Gose sent Hanzawa to the plate and then Garcia would later score on another wild pitch by starter Brad Hand.

Hand (3-9) went five, allowing four runs, one earned and took the loss, his league-high ninth. The win went to Heitor Correa, his sixth, as he worked two outs into the fifth. Correa (6-2) struck out eight and did not walk a batter. Ryan Bergh came on in the sixth for a four-out save, his 11^th.

The BlueClaws and Grasshoppers traded runs late in the ballgame for it to finish 5-2.

The two teams will finish their four-game series on Friday at 7:05 and it will be Trevor May (0-1) in his fourth start of the season. May will be opposed by Kyle Kaminska (5-5).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Mother Nature and two-out hitting doom the Lakewood BlueClaws as for the second time in as many starts, a game Jesus Sanchez starts was suspended by rain. The BlueClaws trailed 3-0 before the rain came on Wednesday and could not do enough on Thursday as they fell to the Greensboro Grasshoppers 3-1 on Thursday.

The Grasshoppers (2-4) got on the board in the first inning as Isaac Galloway led the game off with a double and scored on a two-out single by Ben Lasater to make it 1-0. The Grasshoppers then did it again with two outs in the fifth as, with two runners on, Kevin Mattison hit a double to left, scoring both Galloway and Robert Taylor to make it 3-0.

The BlueClaws (3-4) got a run back in the fifth, however it was after the rains suspended the game with runners on first and third and one out. The game was resumed the next day with Andrew Loomis taking over for Tom Koehler, and Loomis hit Anthony Gose with the first pitch he threw. With the bases loaded, Travis d’Arnaud hit a sacrifice fly before the inning ended on a fly ball by Jim Murphy.

Koehler went into the fifth before the rains and allowed one earned run as he left with a runner in scoring position. Loomis (2-2) gets the win, going 2.2 innings before Peter Andrelczyk got the final six outs for his 13^th save.

Sanchez (3-5) started the game and allowed three runs, all with two outs, and picked up the loss, his fifth of the season. Jared Simon resumed play in the sixth and worked two scoreless innings, continuing his return to Lakewood after saving 30 games last season. Freddy Ballestas pitched a clean inning with two strikeouts and Jacob Diekman worked the ninth.

The BlueClaws and Grasshoppers will play game two, a seven-inning contest, thirty minutes after the completion of game one. Heitor Correa (5-2) will start for the BlueClaws and he will be opposed by lefty Brad Hand (3-8).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – For the second straight time in a game Jesus Sanchez has started, the Lakewood BlueClaws and Greensboro Grasshoppers had their game suspended in the bottom of the fifth inning with Greensboro leading 3-0. The BlueClaws had a game suspended with Delmarva just five days ago.

When the game resumes at 5:05 pm on Thursday the BlueClaws will have runners on at first and second base with one out and Anthony Gose at the plate. The pitchers that will resume the game are unknown.

After the completion of the first game, which will be played through nine innings, the BlueClaws and Grasshoppers will play a seven-inning game with Heitor Correa (5-2) pitching, opposed by lefty Brad Hand (3-8).

The tickets to the game suspended on July 1^st can be exchanged for tickets to any remaining regular season home game. The tickets must be presented and the exchange must be done in person at the BlueClaws Box Office.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – In an exciting affair, it was Jim Murphy’s home run in the seventh inning that was the difference in a 7-4 win for the Lakewood BlueClaws against the Greensboro Grasshoppers. Jason Knapp started that game and was absolutely dominant in five innings, striking out 12 batters.

In a tie ballgame in the seventh, with Travis d’Arnaud on at first, Murphy took a pitch from Bryan Evans (2-3) and deposited it over the wall in left field to take a 6-4 lead.

The Grasshoppers (1-4) got on the board first with a controversial run in the first inning as a run scored after a runner at second was called out stealing a base on an over-slide. The runner, Kevin Mattison was judged to have touched home first before the out was made at second.

However, the BlueClaws (3-3) then tallied two runs in both the third and fourth innings, as in the third, Harold Garcia singled and then scored on a sacrifice fly and Anthony Gose, who walked, scored as the catcher Torre Langley made a wild throw down to second, attempting to get Travis d’Arnaud from taking a base on a wild pitch.

In the fourth, the BlueClaws used four straight hits from Vladimir De Los Santos, Zach Collier, Troy Hanzawa and then a two-run single by Garcia to score two and take a 4-1 lead.

Knapp exited the game due to a high pitch count in the fifth having allowed just one run on two hits and striking out 12. Knapp struck out eight batters in a row and then hit Langley with a pitch, preventing him from striking out the entire Grasshoppers starting lineup in order. However he did record nine straight outs by way of strikeout and ended with his second most strikeouts in a game this season.

In the sixth, Jordan Ellis came on in relief and allowed two to reach base before Ben Lasater hit a game-tying three-run home run. The BlueClaws later took the lead for good on the Murphy home run.

BJ Rosenberg came on in the eighth and worked a six-out save, his team leading 12^th.  

All-Star Johnny Dorn started the game for the Grasshoppers and went 5.1 innings, allowing three earned runs and eight hits.

With the win, the BlueClaws are now 8-0 when on a two-game losing streak. BlueClaws pitching struck out the Greensboro hitters a total of 18 times.

The four-game series will continue on Wednesday at 7:05 pm as the BlueClaws look to move a game over .500 in the second half for the second time. Jesus Sanchez (3-4) will get the call to start the game and he will be opposed by righty Tom Koehler (4-3).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – For the second straight game the Delmarva Shorebirds get a big inning off the Lakewood BlueClaws bullpen to win the game. The Shorebirds scored eight runs in the sixth inning enroute to a 13-7 victory in the rubber match of a five game series.

Off reliever Rob Roth, the Shorebirds got going in the inning with a single by LJ Hoes, Xavier Avery and Luis Bernardo before a walk to Greg Miclat. Kyle Hudson hit an RBI groundout and the BlueClaws elected to walk Elvin Polanco to load the bases. Ryan Bergh came in to face Ron Welty and allowed a two-run single to Welty and a two-run double to Tyler Kolodny. Two more singles later and eight runs in for the Shorebirds in what was a two-run game.

The Shorebirds got three runs in the second inning off of Justin De Fratus, who was making his first start of the season since being transitioned from the bullpen. De Fratus was unlucky to allow six hits and three runs, a number of which were bloops and infield singles. He took the loss, his first of the year.

The BlueClaws had seven runs on 11 hits, one of which was a home run to deep center off the bat of Jim Murphy. Murphy hit the solo blast in the sixth and it was the first ball to leave the park off his bat since June 6^th. The BlueClaws were trailing by nine in the ninth before scoring five runs in the inning.

Oliver Drake started the game for the Shorebirds and went 5.1 innings for the win as he exited the game just after the 8-run sixth inning. He allowed three runs on six hits. Raul Rivero came on with one out in the sixth and worked until there was one out in the ninth. He pitched well before running into trouble in the final frame before Brandon Cooney, the Shorebirds closer was summoned to finish the game.

The BlueClaws have now lost four of their last six games but have yet to lose three games in a row all season long. To keep that streak alive, the BlueClaws will look to Jason Knapp (2-6) on Tuesday against the Greensboro Grasshoppers, who will send Johnny Dorn to the mound (7-5).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – A close game through six innings turned in just one inning as a five-run seventh sparked the Delmarva Shorebirds past the Lakewood BlueClaws 7-2 on Sunday. The win ties the five-game series at two games apiece.

In the seventh inning, off of Jordan Ellis (0-1) in his debut with the Lakewood BlueClaws (2-2), he allowed six straight baserunners to reach, including a home run by Tyler Kolodny, his second of the day, as part of a five-run inning to sink the BlueClaws.

The Shorebirds (2-2) and the BlueClaws traded runs from the second to the fifth with the Shorebirds taking the lead twice, only to have the BlueClaws counter with a run of their own in the very next inning. D’Arby Myers doubled and scored in the third and he also scored on a double by Brendan Akashian in

the fifth.

Trevor May, in his third start for the BlueClaws, pitched his best game of the season. May had struggled with his control in his first two outings and never made it out of the fourth inning, but Sunday was different. On Sunday, May went six innings, allowed just two runs and struck out eight while walking one. He picked up a no-decision. Ellis picked up the loss, going 1.2 innings allowing five runs and Jacob Diekman, sporting a new side-arm delivery closed the game out and pitched the final 1.1 innings.

Ryan O’Shea started for the Shorebirds and also picked up a no decision as he worked five innings and allowed two runs. He did not strike a batter out, in fact, only one BlueClaws player struck out in the game. TR Keating (4-1) worked three innings in relief and picked up the win, keeping the BlueClaws off the scoreboard. Brandon Cooney worked the ninth.

In the game, Anthony Gose had three hits and is now six for his last seven in two games, and Brendan Akashian went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. The BlueClaws had a number of chances in the early-going, loading the bases in the first with one out and they did not score.

The BlueClaws and Shorebirds will play the rubber match in the five-game series on Monday at 7:05 pm. On the mound for the first time as a starter will be All-Star Justin De Fratus. De Fratus (2-0) was a starter last season in Williamsport and led the New-York Penn League in innings pitched. He will be opposed by Oliver Drake (3-4)

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Another one-run game and another Lakewood BlueClaws victory in a one-run game as Travis d’Arnaud doubles home Harold Garcia in the ninth for a 1-0 victory against the Delmarva Shorebirds in game one of two.

Before and after the rain and the 24 hours between pitches, the game was a pitcher’s duel from the start. Both starters Jesus Sanchez and Nathan Moreau had been throwing shutouts and could not continue in the completion of the game. However, Cole McCurry and Freddy Ballestas kept up their end of the bargain.

McCurry kept the Shorebirds no-hitter active through six innings and Ballestas, making his debut with Lakewood, struck out eight in five innings, allowing just two hits.

Shane Matthews (0-2) enters in the eighth and gets the Shorebirds out of a tight jam after Travis Mattair doubled. However, he was the losing pitcher, allowing the run in the ninth. BJ Rosenberg (5-2) was the next pitcher for the BlueClaws and he entered in the ninth and worked a clean inning for the win.

The BlueClaws (1-1) and Shorebirds (1-1) will play a seven-inning game with Heitor Correa (4-2) and Brent Allar (0-2) on the mound in game two.

The tickets to the June 26th game can be exchanged in person at the BlueClaws Box Office for any BlueClaws game the rest of the season, however, there are two fireworks days remaining within this homestand. On Thursday and Friday of next week, July 2nd and 3rd there will also be post-game fireworks presented by Toyota/Scion World of Lakewood. The tickets to the June 26th game must be presented.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – A complete game by Heitor Correa in the seven inning contest earns the Lakewood BlueClaws their first doubleheader sweep of the season in a 3-2 come-from-behind victory in a game where the Delmarva Shorebirds defense hurt them dearly.

The scoring for the BlueClaws (2-1) and the help from the Shorebirds began in the third inning on the first of three runs aided by poor fielding by the ‘Birds. D’Arby Myers singled in the infield and advanced to second on an error, and third on a passed ball before being hit home by a sacrifice fly by Harold Garcia.

The next helpful Shorebirds (1-2) defensive play occurred in the fourth as Brendan Akashian reached on an error by the shortstop and later scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0.

Then, in the fifth, Anthony Gose doubled to right, but took third on a bobble by the right fielder and the error, coupled with a passed ball allowed the third run to score. The first three runs were helped by errors and passed balls.

The Shorebirds got two runs in the fourth off of starter Heitor Correa (5-2), but that was all they could muster off of the right-handed Brazilian. He pitched a complete game, seven-innings for his fifth victory of the season.

The Shorebirds used their bullpen for the entire game, beginning with Brent Allar who went three innings, and allowed five hits and an earned run. He was relieved by Cliff Flagello (0-1), he went the final three innings, allowing two unearned runs and picking up the loss.

For the season, the BlueClaws are now 17 games over .500, their highest mark of the season.

The BlueClaws and Shorebirds will continue their five-game series on Sunday at 1:05 pm as the BlueClaws hold a 2-1 series lead. The BlueClaws will send Trevor May to the mound for the third time this season, and he will be opposed by righty Ryan O’Shea (5-3).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – In a tie ball game going into the bottom of the third the game between the Lakewood BlueClaws and the Delmarva Shorebirds has been suspended due to rain. The game will be resumed on Saturday at 6:05 pm with a seven-inning game to follow.

Both starters Jesus Sanchez and Nathan Moreau had been throwing shutouts so far and will not continue in the completion of the game.

The BlueClaws (0-1) and Shorebirds (1-0) will resume play on Saturday at 6:05 pm and then play a seven-inning game with Heitor Correa (4-2) and lefty Cole McCurry (3-5) being the game two starters.

The tickets to the game can be exchanged in person at the BlueClaws Box Office for any BlueClaws game the rest of the season, however, there are two fireworks days remaining within this homestand. On Thursday and Friday of next week, July 2^nd and 3^rd there will also be post-game fireworks presented by Toyota/Scion World of Lakewood. The tickets to the June 26th game must be presented.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Despite being the first half champions, the Lakewood BlueClaws started the second half the same way they did the first, with a loss to the Delmarva Shorebirds. In the first game of the season, the Shorebirds won 2-1, however, in the first game of the second half, the Shorebirds won by a score of 4-2.

The Shorebirds (1-0) struck first in the ball game as they got to starter Jason Knapp in both the second and third innings. In the second, Knapp allowed a triple to Tyler Kolodny to right centerfield and he scored on the very next batter, a RBI-groundout by LJ Hoes to make it 1-0.

In the third, the Shorebirds got two runners on as Greg Miclat doubled with one out and Xavier Avery walked before Elvin Polanco hit an RBI-single to right field, scoring Miclat from second and sending Avery to third. However, on the play, Vladimir De Los Santos let the ball go under his glove, which allowed Avery to come in from third.

The BlueClaws (0-1) struck back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth as Travis d’Arnaud singled to lead off the inning, followed by a walk by Jim Murphy and another walk to Jeremy Hamilton loaded the bases with no out. Travis Mattair hit a sacrifice fly to right, making the score 3-1 and the BlueClaws got their second run on a botched double-play attempt, and catcher Luis Bernardo threw the ball into right field.

In the sixth, off of reliever Rob Roth, the Shorebirds got an insurance run as they parlayed a leadoff singled and stolen base by Joe Mahoney into a run as Hoes doubled to left.

Knapp (2-6), after four strong starts, only went five innings and allowed three runs on three hits and he struck out eight. Roth entered and allowed one run in two innings before Ryan Bergh pitched two shutout innings.

The Shorebirds starter Chris Salberg struggled to find the zone, walking two, hitting two and allowing five hits, however back-to-back innings were ended

with double plays, so he only allowed one earned run. Salberg was relieved in the fourth by TR Keating (3-1), who allowed a run in 2.2 innings. Raul Rivero came on in the seventh and allowed just one hit and no runs. Closer Brandon Cooney worked around a lead-off singled in the ninth to keep the game at 4-2 and earn his 12^th save of the season.

The Shorebirds have the most wins of any team this season against the BlueClaws as they are now 9-5 this season against them.

The BlueClaws and Shorebirds continue their five-game series, and the second half of the season, on Friday at 7:05 as Jesus Sanchez (3-4) will start for the BlueClaws. Sanchez will be opposed by Nathan Moreau (1-2).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – For the second game in a row, the Lakewood BlueClaws win a game in extra innings, without the ball being put into play. A bases loaded walk this time scored the game winner in a suspended game in the 12^th inning for a 5-4 win against the Lake County Captains.

The BlueClaws (42-25) took the lead in the second inning as Travis Mattair hit a home run to left field, a solo shot, and his second of the season to make it 1-0.

However, the Captains (30-36) got the run back in the very next inning as Abner Abreu, who left the game with an undisclosed injury in the fifth, doubled to lead off the inning and then scored on a single by Donnie Webb to tie the game.

The BlueClaws regained the lead in the fifth as Mattair singled, stole second and then was brought home by Zach Collier who hit a line drive single to right field. That made the game 2-1, before the Captains responded in their next at-bats once again.

Against the starter Tyler Cloyd, Webb tripled to lead off the inning and was singled in by the next hitter Chris Nash. An error and a walk then loaded the bases before Jim Murphy dove to stop a ground ball, firing home to get the first out of the inning. Delvi Cid then struck out before Karexon Sanchez popped out to end the inning, keeping the game tied at two.

The game would remain tied at two through two rain delays before being suspended.

The game was completed at noon the next day and included more runs than the 11 innings the day before.

Rob Roth (3-1) started the top of the 12^th for the BlueClaws and he got Walter Diaz to ground out before Adam White tripled with one out. Cid then reached first as White was thrown out at home. Cid stole second and was sent home on a single by Michael Valadez, also sending Karexon Sanchez who walked to third. The next batter was pitcher Steve Smith, during the at-bat, Valadez broke for second and was caught in a run down, scoring Sanchez from third and the Captains took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the 12^th.

In the bottom of the 12^th, Mike McGuire (4-3) was the pitcher for the Captains and he got Jim Murphy to ground out to start the inning. Then, Mattair had his third hit of the day, a double, Harold Garcia singled him home to make it 4-3 before Zach Collier singled, putting runners at the corner with one out. Alan Schoenberger singled in Garcia to tie the game at four and then an intentional walk to Anthony Gose loaded the bases for Brendan Akashian. The walk to Akashian allowed the game winning run to score, an improbable victory for the BlueClaws.

The win is the fifth in a row for the BlueClaws, and they are winners of nine of their last ten.

The second game of the day began as scheduled at 1:05. Trevor May (0-0) will face Trey Haley (2-3).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Lakewood BlueClaws have locked up the first half title and the playoff spot that goes along with it which is a good thing based on the 14-5 loss on Sunday, ending the first half of the season. The BlueClaws made six errors in the field.

The BlueClaws (42-26) took the lead in the first inning as Harold Garcia walked, stole a base and scored on a single by Jeremy Hamilton to make the game 1-0 but it was all downhill from there.

The Captains (31-36) then scored three runs in the second inning, one of four innings with more than two runs scored on their way to 12 runs.

The Captains got four of their runs off starter Trevor May (0-1), three earned, before he was relieved by Heitor Correa in the fourth.

Correa never got things going either as he was hit for five hits and four earned runs in his four innings of work, including a two run home run by Nate Recknagel in the sixth.

Finally, Jacob Diekman pitched and the trend continued, as he allowed four hits and five runs, two earned in the final two innings of the game in the loss.

The bright spots for the BlueClaws were Brendan Akashian, hitting a solo home run on fathers’ day with his dad in attendance and Steve Susdorf having two extra base hits in consecutive at-bats. The game will also have no bearing on the first half championship the BlueClaws won, going away in the late stages of the season.

For the Captains the win went to TJ McFarland (3-3), who came on in a relief role and pitched 4.2 while allowing three runs.

The BlueClaws will take three days off for the All-Star break, where the BlueClaws will be represented with six players and manager Dusty Wathan, the most in the league, before returning home for a nine-game homestand on Thursday with the Delmarva Shorebirds. All sixteen teams will have a 0-0 record on Thursday.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Rain has halted play after 12 innings of baseball with the game tied at two. The Lakewood BlueClaws and the Lake County Captains will resume play at noon on Sunday.

The BlueClaws took the lead in the second inning as Travis Mattair hit a home run to left field, a solo shot, and his second of the season to make it 1-0.

However, the Captains got the run back in the very next inning as Abner Abreu, who left the game with an undisclosed injury in the fifth, doubled to lead off the inning and then scored on a single by Donnie Webb to tie the game.

The BlueClaws regained the lead in the fifth as Mattair singled, stole second and then was brought home by Zach Collier who hit a line drive single to right field. That made the game 2-1, before the Captains responded in their next at-bats once again.

Against the starter Tyler Cloyd, Webb tripled to lead off the inning and was singled in by the next hitter Chris Nash. An error and a walk then loaded the bases before Jim Murphy dove to stop a ground ball, firing home to get the first out of the inning. Delvi Cid then struck out before Karexon Sanchez popped out to end the inning, keeping the game tied at two.

The game would remain tied at two through two rain delays before being suspended.

The game will be resumed on Sunday at 12, with the regularly scheduled game slated to begin at 1:05 taking place thirty minutes after the completion of the suspended game.

The starting pitchers are to be determined.

If you had tickets to either of the two games on Saturday, click here.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – A day after clinching the first half title and a spot in the 2009 South Atlantic League Playoffs, the Lakewood BlueClaws win another game as they had been all season long, 2-1 in ten innings. With the bases loaded in the tenth, Zach Collier was hit with a pitch, bringing in the game-winning run.

In search of his tenth win of the season, Jon Velasquez took a no-decision as he battled in a pitchers’ duel with Captains starter Danny Salazar. Each starter only allowed one run, the run allowed by Salazar was unearned.

The Captains (30-35) got on the board first in the second inning as Adam Abraham walked with two outs before Chris Nash hit the ball high into center field. D’Arby Myers got a late break on the ball and it hit off his glove in an attempt to dive and make the catch, scoring Abraham on the play.

The BlueClaws (41-25) answered in the fifth with a run of their own as they loaded the bases with no outs and only managed one run on an RBI-groundout by Steve Susdorf, scoring Brendan Akashian.

In the tenth, the BlueClaws loaded the bases with walks against Anillins Martinez, before a bases-loaded hit by pitch to Zach Collier scored the winning run from third.

Velasquez went six innings, working out of trouble in the sixth, striking out Abraham with the bases loaded to keep the game tied. He allowed three hits and struck out four. He was relieved by Santo Hernandez who worked three shutout innings in relief and exited in the ninth in favor of Rob Roth. Roth (2-1) picked up the win as he worked out of loading the bases in the tenth.

Salazar, after two six run outings, did not allow an earned run in five innings, as he scattered seven hits while striking out four. He was relieved by David Roberts who three scoreless innings as well in relief of Salazar. Martinez (1-3) came on in the ninth and picked up the loss in the tenth.

Alan Schoenberger doubled in the fifth inning for his first hit of the season.

The BlueClaws and Captains will play game two and three of the four-game series on Saturday at 1:05 pm and 7:05 pm. Both games of the split doubleheader will be seven innings. The game one starters will be Tyler Cloyd (7-3) for the BlueClaws and righty Alexander Perez (5-2) for the Captains. Making his second start of the season in game two will be Trevor May (0-0) for the BlueClaws and lefty TJ McFarland (2-3). 

HAGERSTOWN, MD – By virtue of their 8-3 victory Thursday night against the Hagerstown Suns, the Lakewood BlueClaws have clinched the championship in the South Atlantic League Northern Division for the first half of the season. The winner of each half of the season also earns a birth into the 2009 SAL playoffs. With a record of 40-25, the BlueClaws can not be passed in the standings with four games to play.

This is the first time the BlueClaws (40-25) have won the championship in the first half of the season, and it clinches their second trip to the playoffs in team history. In 2006 the BlueClaws had the best record in the second half of the year before winning the SAL title.

The 2009 South Atlantic League playoffs will take place shortly after the second half of the season, with the BlueClaws owning home field advantage in the opening series.

The BlueClaws needed a win or a loss by both the Delmarva Shorebirds and the Kannapolis Intimidators to clinch the title, and they took the lead in the very first inning.

In the first, Anthony Gose reached on an error before stealing second base and scoring on a single by Steve Susdorf to make the game 1-0.

The lead then went to three in the second as Travis Mattair led the inning off with a walk before Jeremy Hamilton hit his second home run of the season over the wall in right field to make it 3-0. The BlueClaws then scored another run in the inning as Zach Collier reached on an error, advanced to third on a hit-and run with Troy Hanzawa at the plate and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Harold Garcia.

The Suns (29-33) then countered with two runs of their own in the third as they led the inning off with a walk and a single before an error by Mattair allowed a run to score and runners to advance. The next batter hit a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2.

The BlueClaws got a run back next inning as the tenth overall pick in the 2009 draft, Drew Storen replaced starter Marcos Frias (4-2) and allowed a solo home run to Travis d’Arnaud, the first batter he faced in his professional career. However the lead was back to two as the Suns tallied for one in the bottom of the inning to make it 5-3.

The BlueClaws extended their lead to three in the eighth as Susdorf singled in Gose for the second time in the game. Gose then added an RBI of his own, scoring Hamilton to make it 7-3 in the ninth. Later in the inning, Hanzawa scored on an error.

The win went to Jesus Sanchez (3-4), his third of the season as he went seven innings and allowed five hits and just one earned run. The seven innings is the longest outing of the season for Sanchez. He was relieved by Justin De Fratus in the eighth, and he went the final two innings scoreless.

 The BlueClaws will return home for their final four games of the first half as the first half champions will face the Lake County Captains on Friday at 7:05. The BlueClaws will use starter Jon Velasquez, the league leader in wins, and he will be opposed by Danny Salazar (1-3).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Both teams put up five-run innings, but the Lakewood BlueClaws insurance run in the fifth to make it 6-0 was the difference in a 6-5 win against the second place Delmarva Shorebirds on Tuesday night. The win earns the series win in a three-game series and gets the BlueClaws even closer towards clinching the first half championship and a playoff birth.

The BlueClaws (39-25) took what they thought was going to be a commanding lead in the third as they batted around against starter Oliver Drake. Drake (2-4) had not allowed more than four runs in a single outing this season but was tagged for five in the inning. Highlighted by two two-run singles by both Anthony Gose and Steve Susdorf, the final run in the inning scored on a single by Jim Murphy making it 5-0. The inning ended as Drake got Travis Mattair to ground into a 1-6-3 double play with runners at the corners and one out.

The BlueClaws then added to their lead in the fifth as Travis d’Arnaud was hit by a pitch before Mattair stroked a triple to deep centerfield to score d’Arnaud and make it a 6-0 game.

However in the seventh, off of Ryan Ariail who entered the game for Heitor Correa, the Shorebirds (33-29) had a five-run inning of their own. In the inning, Ariail walked a batter before allowing Luis Bernardo to double, walked Kyle Hudson, allowed a triple to Ron Welty, a single to Elvin Polanco before being taken out in favor of Ryan Bergh who allowed a double to Tyler Kolodny. Bergh ended the inning with the lead and worked a clean eighth to set things up for BJ Rosenberg.

Rosenberg worked a one-two-three ninth inning as he struck out the side for his team-leading 11^th save.

Correa (4-2) pitched marvelous in six innings, allowing just two hits and two walks, while striking out seven and not allowing a run. Now in 24.2 innings at home, Correa has allowed just one earned run.

The win gives the BlueClaws a five-game lead in the division with just six games left to play and their magic number for clinching the division is two. With help, the BlueClaws can now clinch a playoff spot in their very next game.

The BlueClaws now travel to Hagerstown for a two-game series with the Suns as Jesus Sanchez (2-4) will start. He will be opposed by talented righty Marcos Frias (4-1). The BlueClaws will return home on Friday for the final four games of the first half.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Missed opportunities for the Lakewood BlueClaws at the plate, and the Delmarva Shorebirds timely hitting in the sixth earns them the 5-1 win and places the Shorebirds a game closer in the division behind the BlueClaws.

The BlueClaws (37-25) could not take advantage of five walks from Shorebirds starter Ryan O’Shea as they stranded runners throughout the game.

The Shorebirds (33-27) took the lead in the second inning as starter Jason Knapp allowed a single to Elvin Polanco before a groundball to Travis Mattair was thrown wild to first and into the stands along the right side. The error allowed the Shorebirds to have second and third and no outs before the BlueClaws conceded two runs on back-to-back ground outs in the infield. Both runs were unearned.

The BlueClaws got on the board with an unearned run of their own as Anthony Gose reached on an error and stole second before Travis d’Arnaud almost tied the game on one swing. He sent the ball off the top of the wall in left, scoring Gose and making it a 2-1 game as O’Shea exited the game going 4.1 and allowing one run. Joe Esposito (2-0) came on and, with the tying run on second, struck out both Steve Susdorf and Jim Murphy.

Knapp (2-5) went 5.1 innings and struck out seven but walked seven and left Justin De Fratus runners on first and second with one out. De Fratus walked his first batter to load the bases before a groundball to first saw Jeremy Hamilton throw a little wild to the plate, allowing Elvin Polanco to score, making it a 3-1 ballgame. De Fratus then struck out Kyle Hudson before a two-run double by Luis Bernardo, making it 5-1.

With the win, the Shorebirds have cut the BlueClaws lead in the division to just three games with ten to play for the Shorebirds and eight to play for the BlueClaws.

The BlueClaws and the Shorebirds will play the second game of the doubleheader shortly. The starters are RHP Trevor May and RHP Patrick Kantakevich who are making their first starts of the season.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – After a three-run home run that could have doomed the Lakewood BlueClaws, a four-run fourth ignited the BlueClaws past the Delmarva Shorebirds in a rain-shortened game 6-4 in game two of the doubleheader. The teams split the twin bill and Lakewood remains four games ahead in the South Atlantic League Northern Division.

With a 1-0 BlueClaws (38-25) lead, the game went into the first of two rain delays before play resumed 40 minutes after it halted. In the top of the fourth starter Trevor May returned to the mound and walked two batters before striking out two setting up two-on, two-out for Garabez Rosa. Rosa sent a fastball over the wall in left for his fourth hit of the season and first extra base hit to take a 3-1 lead and what could have been a shot to the BlueClaws confidence.

However, in the fourth Jeremy Hamilton walked off of Shane Matthews (0-1), in relief of Patrick Kantakevich, Travis Mattair made it a 3-2 game with a double before Zach Collier hit a laser to right field for a triple, tying the game with just one out. After Troy Hanzawa struck out, Harold Garcia stung a double to center, giving the BlueClaws a 4-3 lead before he was singled in by Anthony Gose. All told, the BlueClaws erased a two-run deficit with four runs in the inning and took a 5-3 lead to the fifth.

In the fifth, off Santo Hernandez (4-2) the Shorebirds (33-28) got a run back to make it 5-4 but the BlueClaws added another run in the fifth, and the rain began to fall with two-on and just one out, eventually ending the game, with Lakewood awarded the 6-4 win.

May went 3.2 innings in his first start of the season and struck out eight but walked five.

The win prevented the BlueClaws from being swept and having their advantage shrink to just two games. The win makes the BlueClaws magic number five with eight to play and it places their lead in the division back to four, where it began the day.

The BlueClaws will face Delmarva for game three of the three-game series at 7:05 on Tuesday night with Heitor Correa (3-2) opposing Oliver Drake (2-3). The matchup is another huge game towards determining the eventual first half champion and it’s a battle of two of the best pitcher in each team’s rotation.

EAST LAKE, OH – The bats finally break loose for the Lakewood BlueClaws as they did not have to rely on their steady starting pitching on Sunday with a 9-7 victory against the Lake County Captains. The BlueClaws nearly surrendered a late six-run lead.  The win is the fourth in a row for the BlueClaws and it completes a sweep of the Captains in a three game series.

The scoring began this time in the third inning, and for the first time in the series, the Captains (26-34) took the lead. Against starter Tyler Cloyd, John Allman doubled to lead off the inning and then a walk to Walter Diaz put two runners on. Jose Camargo singled to load the bases before an infield groundout allowed the first run to score. The Captains took a 2-0 lead as Adam White placed a bunt single just fair down the third base line.

However, the lead was short-lived as the BlueClaws (37-24) tied things up in their very next at-bat. In the fourth, Steve Susdorf singled with one out before three more straight hits. A single from Travis Mattair, a double by Jeremy Hamilton and a single from Troy Hanzawa made it a tie ballgame at two.

In the fifth, the BlueClaws took the lead as they showed some power at Classic Park. Harold Garcia led off the inning with a solo home run, but the BlueClaws were not done yet. After a fly out by Anthony Gose, Travis d’Arnaud singled and was brought home on a two-run home run by Susdorf, making the lead three at 5-2.

In the sixth, the BlueClaws made it a four-run lead as Brendan Akashian scored on a ground ball out by Alan Schoenberger before the Captains staged a comeback.

With Cloyd’s (7-3) day done after six innings, where he allowed six hits and two runs, Ryan Ariail was summoned and he allowed a run to make it 6-3 and he put runners on base before Ryan Bergh came in and induced a ground ball to first, and a diving stop by Hamilton helped the BlueClaws keep the damage to one. Bergh ended the day pitching into the ninth before giving up a chunk of the BlueClaws advantage.

The BlueClaws re-established a four-run lead in the eighth as Hanzawa walked to lead off the inning and scored on back-to-back singles by D’Arby Myers and Garcia.

The BlueClaws made it a six-run lead in the ninth as Akashian batted his forst two runs in of the season with a bases loaded single. The hit made it a 9-3 lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, Bergh worked himself into trouble, allowing two runners on with a walk and a hit by pitch before three hits made it a 9-5 game with runners on second and third before closer BJ Rosenberg had to come into the game. Rosenberg walked the first batter he faced before a groundball resulted in both a run and an out, making it a 9-6 ballgame. He then induced a pop up to left field, a sacrifice fly, making the score 9-7 with two outs. Abner Abreu ground out to first, earning the win for the BlueClaws and Rosenberg’s tenth save.

Danny Salazar (1-3), who has struggled this season, continued to do so as he took the loss and went 5.1 innings, allowing ten hits and six runs. Santo Frias allowed a run in relief of Salazar and Anillins Martinez allowed two.

The BlueClaws will return home for three games in two days and they will do so against the Delmarva Shorebirds. The Shorebirds came into play on Sunday as the second place team, three games behind the BlueClaws. On Monday, the BlueClaws will play a doubleheader, scheduled to begin at 6:05. The game one starters will be Jason Knapp (2-4) and he will be opposed by Ryan O’Shea (5-2). The game two starters, which will begin 30 minutes after game one, have yet to be determined.

EAST LAKE, OH – Starter Jon Velasquez picked up his league-leading ninth win of the season as the Lakewood BlueClaws snuck past the Lake County Captains 4-2 to win their third straight game and maintain their lead in the South Atlantic League North.

The BlueClaws (36-24) got on the board in the first inning for the second straight game as Anthony Gose doubled to center and the next batter Travis d’Arnaud hit an RBI-double to score Gose and give the BlueClaws a 1-0 lead.

The lead was put on hold in the bottom of the first as the Captains (26-33) tacked on a run to tie the game, but the BlueClaws took the lead right back in the second inning as hot-hitting Travis Mattair singled to lead off the inning, moved to second on a ground ball and then scored on a single by D’Arby Myers to make it 2-1 BlueClaws.

The score would stay that way until the sixth, when the BlueClaws added another run on a weird play. With Mattair on first, Jeremy Hamilton grounded the ball to third, the third baseman Adam Abraham threw the ball low to first, allowing Mattair to advance to third and then he scored as the Captains vacated home plate, leaving it unoccupied and the aggressive baserunning by Mattair allowed the BlueClaws to take a 3-1 lead.

The Captains made it 3-2 ballgame as Chris Nash took a Velasquez offering to deep center, going over the head of Gose and hitting the base of the wall. The ball got away from Gose, and before it was thrown back into the infield, Nash had circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

The BlueClaws got some breathing room in the eighth as Myers reached second base on an error and scored on a single by Harold Garcia. The run gave the BlueClaws a 4-2 lead.

After throwing seven innings and allowing just one hit in his last start Velasquez (9-2) continued the trend of strong starting pitching for the BlueClaws with a seven-inning two-run performance. He allowed five hits, no walks and he struck out two. Justin De Fratus then entered the game in the eighth and worked a one-two-three inning and stayed in to strike out the first batter in the ninth. Ryan Bergh came on for the final two outs and picked up his team-leading tenth save of the season.

A recent call-up from extended spring training, Captains starter Chris Jones (1-1) pitched well in his second start of the season. He lasted until one out in the sixth and allowed two earned runs.  Mike McGuire then came in and allowed the remaining BlueClaws run.

The win shrinks the BlueClaws magic number for making the playoffs by one and depending on results by the Delmarva Shorebirds, the BlueClaws could increase or slightly decrease their lead in the division, which was 2.5 at the beginning of the day.

With the win, the BlueClaws move to 12 games over .500 for the first time this season.

The BlueClaws and Captains will finish their three-game series as the BlueClaws look for the sweep on Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm. The BlueClaws will start All-Star Tyler Cloyd (6-3) and he will be opposed by Danny Salazar (1-2).

EAST LAKE, OH – The Lakewood BlueClaws got a very strong six innings from Jesus Sanchez and equally strong run support in a well-played 5-2 victory against the Lake County Captains on Friday night.

The BlueClaws got on the board in the very first inning as the hot-hitting Anthony Gose took a ball into the right field corner and legged out a triple before a sacrifice fly off the bat of Travis d’Arnaud brought him home.

In the sixth, the BlueClaws (35-24) added to their lead as they loaded the bases with just one out. With D’Arby Myers at the plate, new pitcher Dave Roberts threw a wild pitch, scoring d’Arnaud, giving the BlueClaws a 2-0 lead.

The BlueClaws padded their lead with two more runs in the seventh as newcomer Alan Schoenberger walked to lead off the inning before Harold Garcia hit an RBI-triple and later scored on a single by d’Arnaud. The BlueClaws took a 4-0 lead in to the bottom of the seventh inning.

In the bottom of the seventh the Captains (26-32) got runners on as Karexon Sanchez singled and Adam Abraham doubled, putting runners in scoring position with no one out. Sanchez was then lifted in favor of Santo Hernandez and he only allowed one of those two runners to score on a groundout, preserving a three-run BlueClaws advantage.

Travis Mattair pinch hit to lead off the ninth and tripled off the glove of before scoring an insurance run on a wild pitch to make it 5-1.

Sanchez (2-4) pitched his best game of the season as he worked into the seventh inning for the first time all year. All told, he went six full, allowing just one run and four hits. The win is the second of his professional career. Hernandez did well keep the BlueClaws in it in the seventh and worked himself out of trouble in the eighth before giving way to Rob Roth. Roth, one appearance removed from the disabled list, walked both batters he saw which summoned BJ Rosenberg from the bullpen. In a save situation, Rosenberg allowed a single and a run charged to Roth before striking out the side for his ninth save of the season.

TJ House (1-7), who’s record does not match his performances this season, lost again as he went 5.1 innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out five. He was relieved by David Roberts who went

The win is the second in a row for the BlueClaws and it keeps them at least 1.5 games ahead of the Delmarva Shorebirds in the South Atlantic League Northern Division with just 11 games to play in the first half.

The BlueClaws will play the second game of the series on Saturday night at 7:00pm. Looking for their third straight win, the BlueClaws will send the league leader in wins Jon Velasquez (8-2) to the mound, and he will be opposed by righty Danny Salazar (1-2).