Game Recap

GREENVILLE, SC – For the second time in their history, the Lakewood BlueClaws are champions of the South Atlantic League. The BlueClaws won game four of the Championship Series by the score of 5-1 against the Greenville Drive. The win capped off a tremendous season for the BlueClaws in which they were first half champions. The BlueClaws won the series three games to one.

Korey Noles, who featured in just 7.2 innings in the regular season, started the game for the BlueClaws and went seven full innings allowing just one run on six hits while striking out four. It was the sixth inning that gave the BlueClaws (3-1) trouble in game three, but Noles (1-0) got the BlueClaws through to the eighth.

The BlueClaws took the lead in the very first inning as they manufactured a run with the speed of Anthony Gose. Gose singled through the hole on the left hand side, was sacrificed to second and stole third before an RBI-groundout off the bat of Travis d’Arnaud.

The BlueClaws extended their lead in the third inning as Troy Hanzawa led the inning off with a walk before being advanced to second on a ground ball out and then to third on an infield single off of Gose’s bat. Harold Garcia then hit a sacrifice fly to center, his fifth game in the playoffs with an RBI, and d’Arnaud singled in Gose to make it 3-0 BlueClaws. Gose went first to third on the single and scored as the ball got past third base and the catcher had to field the ball, vacating home plate.

In the fourth, the BlueClaws got their fourth run as four straight singles combined for a run as Gump scored on an RBI-two-out single by Hanzawa to the opposite field.

Fabian Williamson, statistically the best pitcher for the Drive in the regular season, started and was lifted early in the ballgame. Williamson (1-1) allowed seven hits and four runs, three earned. Leandro Marin worked two shaky scoreless in relief before Mitchell Herold came on in the seventh and also worked a clean inning. Kyle Rutter, who picked up the save in game three also pitched in the ballgame.

The Drive (1-3) got on the board in the seventh inning as Mitch Dening singled with two outs and scored from first on a double by Kade Keowen making it 4-1.

The BlueClaws added to their lead in the eighth inning as Travis Mattair walked to lead off the inning, got to second on a sacrifice bunt and got to third on an infield single by Vladimir De Los Santos. Mattair then scored in an RBI-groundout by Gose to make it 5-1.

Austin Hyatt came on in the eighth inning and struck out two and allowed just one runner. He allowed a single to start the ninth before getting Ryan Lavarnway to pop out for the first out. The next batter then struck out looking before Hyatt got Keowen to pop up to Garcia to finish the game.

The BlueClaws previously won the SAL in 2006. This is the BlueClaws ninth season in the 16-team South Atlantic League.

Full recap with quotes and pictures to follow.

GREENVILLE, SC – The Lakewood BlueClaws championship in 2009 is going to have to wait another day at least as they could not get the big hit, which they had been doing throughout the playoffs in a 3-2 loss on Thursday night to the Greenville Drive. The BlueClaws scored first but allowed all three runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Through the first four inning the game was a stalemate and a pitchers’ duel between both BlueClaws starter Trevor May and Drive starter Stolmy Pimentel. Each had worked through the top of the fifth without allowing a run and having to do so working out of a number of situations with runners on base.

However, the BlueClaws got their breakthrough in the top of the fifth inning as Travis d’Arnaud hit a double with one out and the very next hitter, Jim Murphy also sent a high fly ball into the gap in right-centerfield, scoring d’Arnaud and giving the BlueClaws a 1-0 lead.

May worked through five innings and did not allow a run. He worked out of having runners in scoring position in three innings. His five scoreless innings extends his scoreless innings streak to 21 innings. May struck out three and walked two, he also allowed three hits.

Jacob Diekman (0-1) came on in the sixth and quickly allowed a run. After walking the leadoff batter Zach Gentile, he got a pop out before another walk and an RBI-double by Mitch Dening. Luke Wertz was the third pitcher in the ballgame for the BlueClaws and entered with runners on second and third with one out. Wertz allowed a single and a run to score and then a sacrifice fly before getting out of the inning with the score 3-1 in favor of the Greenville Drive.

Pimentel finished his day pitching five and allowing six hits and just one run. Jeremy Kehrt came on and worked two outs into the ninth. He worked out of first and second with no out with a double play ball off the bat of d’Arnaud in the seventh he allowed one run on a double by Travis Mattair in the eighth. Mattair hit the double with one out and two strikes on him after Sebastian Valle hit the top of the Green Monster in left.

Eryk McConnell entered in the eight inning in a 3-2 ballgame and kept it that way, setting up the situation in the ninth.

Kehrt (1-0), in the ninth, got Anthony Gose swinging before a single to Harold Garcia and a fielder’s choice by d’Arnaud. Murphy singled and that brought up Valle with two runners on and two outs. The Drive brought in Kyle Rutter to finish the ballgame. He did so inducing a fly ball to right field.

Lakewood had a number of chances in the ballgame as they had 11 hits and hit only 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Gose and Murphy both had two hits apiece for the BlueClaws.

The series will continue on Friday at 7:05 pm as the Drive avoid elimination with their victory. The starters for game four will be Korey Noles (1-0) for the BlueClaws and Fabian Williamson (10-5) for the Drive.  

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Jesus Sanchez, Austin Hyatt and Santo Hernandez combined to pitch a shutout and the Lakewood BlueClaws bats came alive at the right time in a 3-0 victory in game two of the South Atlantic League Championship Series. The win gives the BlueClaws a 2-0 series lead in a best-of-five series.

Early on it was a pitchers’ duel between starters Jesus Sanchez and Caleb Clay who went through the top of the fifth without a run crossing home plate. Sanchez worked six full scoreless and worked out of a few jams but pitched phenomenally in his first start since September 7^th. Sanchez allowed three hits and five strikeouts.

Clay (0-1) hadn’t allowed a hit through 4.2 and had only thrown 40 pitches through four but Jeremy Hamilton singled with two outs, as did Brian Gump and Troy Hanzawa doubled, scoring Hamilton as the BlueClaws (2-0) took a 1-0 lead.

The BlueClaws added to their lead in the sixth as the inning began with an error on a ball hit by Travis Mattair, Will Middlebrooks, the Drive (0-2) third baseman, airmailed the first baseman to put a runner on before back-to-back singles by Anthony Gose and an RBI-single by Harold Garcia. The BlueClaws then loaded the bases with no out, but only brought in one run on a pitch that hit Sebastian Valle, making it 3-0. Clay went five full, and allowed five hits and three runs, two earned. Lance McClain came in to finish that inning.

After Sanchez (0-1), Austin Hyatt came on to pitch the seventh and eighth and he worked them easily, striking out four and allowing two baserunners. Santo Hernandez, the BlueClaws closer came on to pitch the ninth. Hernandez allowed two hits but retired the side without allowing a run. It’s his third save of the post-season.

Garcia had an RBI-single in the sixth and now has RBIs in all four playoff games in the post-season.

Phillies third baseman Greg Dobbs played for the BlueClaws on rehab assignment and led off. He played five innings in the field and went 0-for-2. He grounded out to short to lead off the game and reached on an error, a ground ball to first, in the fourth.

The series will now shift back to Greenville, SC for the final three games of the series, if necessary. After an off day, a travel day on Wednesday, the two teams will meet again on Thursday at 7:05 pm. The BlueClaws will send Trevor May (4-1) to the mound in game three and he pitched six scoreless in game two of the Divisional Series. He will be opposed by Stolmy Pimentel (10-7) and Pimentel was the game one starter in the Divisional Series and he went six innings and allowed one run. The final two games of the series are if necessary games on Friday and Saturday at 7:05 pm.  

You can follow the remaining games of the Championship Series on 1160 AM or 1310 AM. Additionally, you can listen online at www.shoresportsnetwork.com

LAKEWOOD, NJ – In a contest which had both emotional highs and lows it was the Lakewood BlueClaws who came up with clutch hitting and clutch situational pitching from their bullpen and they squeaked past the Greenville Drive 6-3 in game one of the South Atlantic League Championship Series. The BlueClaws jump out to a 1-0 series lead.

The BlueClaws got on the board with their first swing of the bat as Anthony Gose sent a tape-measure shot over the wall in right-centerfield to give the BlueClaws a 1-0 lead.

Things changed in the second and third innings as the Greenville Drive benefitted from Matthew Way missing the zone as they took the lead at 2-1 after the top of the third. Way only lasted one out into the fourth and walked a season-high four and he allowed two runs.

Down by a run in the third the BlueClaws had a runner on, D’Arby Myers with two outs. Myers stole second base before two two-out hits, an RBI-double by Harold Garcia and an RBI-single by Travis d’Arnaud to take a 3-2 lead.

The BlueClaws added a run in the sixth inning with a leadoff double by d’Arnaud and another big two-out hit, this time by Brian Gump to take a 4-2 lead.

The Drive had their fair share of chances in this ballgame as they put two on with one out in both the fifth and sixth and didn’t score, they also had the bases loaded in the third with out and scored just one but no better chance than in the seventh off of Major Leaguer Clay Condrey.

Condrey, on rehab assignment from the Philadelphia Phillies allowed a single and a walk to lead off the inning and then an RBI-double to force in a run, make the score 4-3, and put runners on second and third with no one out. Condrey then worked a groundball out to d’Arnaud before he induced a slow roller to first. Murphy fielded the ball and attempted to tag the runner out, who was originally called safe before the call was changed. Condrey then struck out Shannon Wilkerson, escaping with the lead.

After Austin Hyatt worked a clean eighth, the BlueClaws got two insurance runs in the 4-3 ballgame with a solo home run from Garcia and an RBI-double from Jim Murphy after d’Arnaud walked.

Santo Hernandez came on to pitch the ninth inning and allowed a leadoff single before a strikeout, a pop out and struck out the final hitter of the game with a pitch on the outside part of the plate.

The BlueClaws used six pitchers for the first time all season and Luke Wertz (1-0) was credited with the win after throwing a scoreless inning. Jacob Diekman also pitched and recorded two outs in a big spot in the sixth.

The losing pitcher was starter Brock Huntzinger (0-1) as he allowed four runs in six innings. Mitchell Herold, who had been dominant in the regular season, pitched an inning and allowed two hits and two important insurance runs.

The Drive out-hit the BlueClaws 10-9 and also benefitted from six walks. They were 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Garcia led the BlueClaws with a 2-for-4 night with a home run and an RBI-double.

The BlueClaws have won one championship in their team history in 2006, they’re looking for their second.

The SAL Championship series, a best-of-five series, will continue on Tuesday, September 15^th at 7:05 pm at FirstEnergy Park, the final game held in Lakewood this season. The series shifts to Greenville, SC for the final three games. The BlueClaws will send the team leader in wins and strikeouts to the hill for his first action since the final game of the regular season, Jesus Sanchez (10-6). The Drive will counter with Caleb Clay (6-7) who pitched five innings and allowed three runs against the BlueClaws earlier this year.

LAKEWOOD, NJ - For the second time in team history, the Lakewood BlueClaws are champions of the South Atlantic League Northern Division and headed to the Championship Series which begins on Monday, September 14th at FirstEnergy Park. The BlueClaws did it with their bats as they belted out 14 hits in a 9-0 win on Friday night.

The BlueClaws (2-0) set the tone early in the first as they took advantage of an Intimidators misplayed fly ball as Sebastian Valle batted in Travis d''Arnaud with a single and the game was 1-0 early.

That would be the only run the BlueClaws would need as starter Trevor May (1-0) went six innings, allowing just two hits and striking out eight, combined with Jacob Diekman, Ryan Bergh and Freddy Ballestas, the BlueClaws pitched the shutout.

However, the BlueClaws did add more runs, eight of them. Lakewood scored two in the second with two RBI-doubles, by D''Arby Myers and Troy Hanzawa to extend the lead to three.

The lead was extended on an RBI-groundout in the third and made larger by two in the fourth. In the fourth the BlueClaws got two RBI-doubles again, one by Harold Garcia and the other off the bat of Jim Murphy to take a 6-0 lead.

The BlueClaws were not done as one swing of the bat in the sixth produced three more runs. With Garcia on second and d''Arnaud on first, Valle sent the ball over the wall in left field for a three-run blast, making it 9-0.

The BlueClaws played as good as they have all season and the Northern Division Champions are bound for the Championship Series for the second time, first since 2006.

In the game, Valle had three hits, d''Arnaud had two doubles, Hanzawa had three singles and Garcia had a pair of hits.

Intimidators (0-2) starter Joseph Serafin (0-1) started and took the loss, he was lifted with one out in the fourth inning after allowing six runs.

The South Atlantic League Championship Series will feature the BlueClaws against the winner of the Southern Division Championship Series, either the Asheville Tourists or the Greenville Drive. That series is still ongoing with Greenville winning game one by the score of 3-2.

The Championship Series is a five game series and begins on Monday, September 14th at 7:05 pm at FirstEnergy Park. The series continues the next night on Tuesday, September 15th at 7:05 pm at FirstEnergy Park and concludes with three games on the road on September 17th, 18th, and 19th. Tickets to the SAL Championship Series are still available by calling the BlueClaws Ticket Office at 732-901-7000 from 9am-3pm on Saturday and beginning at 9am on Monday. Tickets are also available in person at FirstEnergy Park.

Additionally, any unused tickets from game two (Friday, Setpember 11th) of the SAL Northern Division Championship Series can be exchanged for games one and two of the SAL Championship Series next week at FirstEnergy Park, also anyone with tickets to the unplayed game three (September 12th) can also exchange them for tickets to games one and two of the finals.

All ticket exchanges must be done in person at the BlueClaws Box Office.

KANNAPOLIS, NC – Matthew Way pitched a gem, his seven inning effort went a long way in winning game one of the South Atlantic League Northern Division Championship Series by the score of 4-2 on Wednesday night. The series is a best-of-three that continues in Lakewood, NJ on Friday night.

The Intimidators (0-1) got on the board first as two base hits and a double plated a run in the very first inning off of Matthew Way but the lefty then settled down and did so in a big way.

Way (1-0) ended up pitching seven innings allowing just the one run in the first inning. He struck out seven and walked just one. The lefty from Alaska was a member of the 2009 draft class and he made a quick impression on the coaching staff to earn him a start in the first game of the series. Matthew Way did not disappoint.

The BlueClaws (1-0) got on the board in the second inning with an unearned run as Sebastian Valle led the inning off with a ground ball to the shortstop that was thrown high and into the seats on the right hand side. After a sacrifice bunt from Brian Gump, Travis Mattair punched a single through a drawn-in infield to tie the game up at one.

The BlueClaws grabbed two runs in the third inning as D’Arby Myers walked to lead the inning off before Anthony Gose singled. With runners on second and third, Travis d’Arnaud singled in Myers to take a 2-1 lead. The other run came in as starter Charlie Leesman threw a wild pitch.

Leesman (0-1), the SAL leader in wins in the regular season, went five innings and allowed three runs, two earned. Those numbers were a far cry from what Leesman did against Lakewood in the regular season when he went twenty straight batters without allowing a hit. He allowed eight hits in the game on Wednesday.

The BlueClaws left runners on second and third in both the fourth and sixth and left the bases loaded in the seventh but broke through again with a run in the eighth.

With one out, Myers walked again, was singled to third by Gose and scored on a sacrifice fly to centerfield to make it 4-1. The BlueClaws though, left the bases loaded again in the inning.

In the eighth the BlueClaws brought in Austin Hyatt and he delivered with a 1-2-3 inning but things got interesting in the ninth. Santo Hernandez came on and allowed a leadoff single before recording the first out. He then balked twice and sent Luis Sierra to third. With the runner on third, Hernandez walked Dan Black before an RBI- groundout which made it 4-2. Hernandez then faced Kenny Williams, who almost tripled down the line in right but the ball was called foul before striking out to end the ballgame.

The BlueClaws return home to play their first home playoff game since they won the title in 2006. In the game, which will take place on Friday, September 11^th at 7:05, the BlueClaws will start Trevor May (4-1) and he will be opposed by Joseph Serafin (3-1), who is taking the start from the injured Stephen Sauer. Should the BlueClaws lose game two of the series, game three of the series will take place on Saturday at 7:05 pm. Tickets are still available for the playoffs and can be purchased by calling the BlueClaws Box Office at 732-901-7000 or in person at the BlueClaws Box Office.

SALISBURY, MD – The Lakewood BlueClaws put up seven runs in the final four innings, including a four-run seventh to win the final regular season game of the season by the score of 7-2 against the Delmarva Shorebirds on Monday night. The win ends a regular season where the BlueClaws were 20-games above the .500 mark and earned a playoff spot as the first-half champions of the South Atlantic League Northern Division.

The Shorebirds grabbed the lead first as LJ Hoes scored in the first and Mike Flacco the second off of BlueClaws starter Jesus Sanchez. Sanchez in his playoff tune-up pitched relatively well in three innings allowing two runs and a few unlucky plays but struck out four.

The BlueClaws (36-32/78-58) got on the board in a 2-0 game in the sixth as D’Arby Myers hits a solo home run over the wall in left centerfield. The home run is just the second of the year for Myers and he hit his first home run in April.

In a 2-1 ballgame the big inning was the seventh as the BlueClaws strike for four. Against reliever Mick Mattaliano (0-2), Jim Murphy singled to start things off before a fly our to Sebastian Valle, a walk to Brian Gump and a bloop single by Travis Mattair loaded the bases up. With the bases loaded, Troy Hanzawa hit an infield single, scoring a run and then TJ Warren cleared the bases with a double. On the double, an error allowed Warren to get to third and the third run to score. The big inning made it 5-2 in favor of the BlueClaws. Warren also hit an RBI-triple in the ninth and scored on a single by Vladimir De Los Santos.

In relief of Sanchez, Eryk McConnell (2-1) ended the season on a very strong note, as he went three innings and only had one batter reach on an error, he struck out five. Korey Noles pitched a clean inning with a par of strikeouts on the seventh and Luke Wertz pitched a shutout eighth. Santo Hernandez pitched a scoreless ninth as the bullpen combined for six shutout innings.

The Shorebirds (30-37/66-70) starter Nick Haughian pitched well in his second game at this level as he went six innings and allowed just one run.

The win for the BlueClaws makes it 11 wins in 23 games this season with Delmarva and they win the final five-game series by the count of four games to one. The win also ends the season for Lakewood at 20 games above .500 and two wins shy of last season’s total of 80 wins. The BlueClaws played two less games this season than last season.

Anthony Gose, with 76 stolen bases this season ends the year with more stolen bases than any player in Minor League Baseball.

The BlueClaws will have a travel day tomorrow before they begin the South Atlantic League Northern Division Championship against the Kannapolis Intimidators on Wednesday at 7:05 pm. In the best-of-three series, the game one starters will be RHP Matthew Way (4-1) and LHP Charlie Leesman (13-5). The playoff games can be found on 1160am, 1310 am or at http://www.shoresportsnetwork.com/. The BlueClaws will play games two and three (if necessary) in Lakewood on September 11^th and 12^th at 7:05 pm.

SALISBURY, MD – In a game that took barely more than two hours, one swing of the bat separated the two teams. A solo home run by Harold Garcia in the first inning was the difference as the Lakewood BlueClaws won 1-0 against the Delmarva Shorebirds on Sunday night.

In his tune-up for the post-season, BlueClaws (34-32) starter Trevor May (4-1) was as advertised. He went five innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out seven. May worked himself out of a bases loaded and two outs jam with a strikeout in the third. Freddy Ballestas worked extremely well in three innings as he struck out three. Jacob Diekman picked up his second save of the season as he worked a quick ninth.

The BlueClaws got their lone run on the second swing of the ballgame on a solo home run by Harold Garcia in the first inning. Garcia, who has been much better as a lefty batter this season, sent the ball into the wind and over the left field wall as a righty against the lefty starter Cole McCurry.

McCurry (6-9) is a tough luck loser for the Shorebirds (30-35) as he pitched tremendous in eight innings of work he struck out nine and allowed four hits, but the home run to Garcia.

With the win, the BlueClaws have clinched their eighth consecutive winning half dating back to the 2006 season when they won their lone South Atlantic League title.

The shutout is the ninth of the season for the BlueClaws.

The BlueClaws and Shorebirds will end their five-game series as well as their regular season schedules on Monday at 6:05 pm. The BlueClaws playoff game three starter, if necessary, Jesus Sanchez (10-6) will work his post-season tune-up, and he will be opposed by lefty Nick Haughian (0-1).

SALISBURY, MD – A nine-run seventh inning turned a Lakewood BlueClaws lead into a blowout loss on Saturday night as they lose 13-7 against the Delmarva Shorebirds.

The Shorebirds (30-35) put eight runs across the board before the BlueClaws (34-32) could record an out in the seventh after they had led both 3-0 and 5-4. Against Ryan Bergh, the righty allowed six hits, eight runs, seven earned in the inning before being lifted with no one out in favor of Santo Hernandez who allowed the remaining run. The run output is the highest in a single inning this season for any opponent of the BlueClaws.

Austin Hyatt (0-1) started for the BlueClaws and in his debut looked very good through four innings before being touched up a bit in a four-run fifth. He went the first four scoreless and overall, struck out eight but allowed those four runs in 2/3 of an inning in the fifth.

For the BlueClaws, they scored single runs in the second, third and fifth, they also put up two runs in the sixth for a respectable five-run night. Notables for the BlueClaws were doubles by both D’Arby Myers and Vladimir De Los Santos and an RBI-single for Troy Hanzawa. Myers also tripled in a run in the ninth.

Carl Salberg started for the Shorebirds as he went 5.1 innings and allowed five runs, two earned. He did not pick up the win; Jacob Smith (1-0) did, as he came on as the first man in relief.

BlueClaws outfielder Brian Gump was called upon to pitch the bottom of the eighth in an eight-run game and he worked three straight pop-outs.

The win clinches a season series win for the Shorebirds against the BlueClaws as they lead 12-9 in 21 games.

The two teams will continue the five-game series on Sunday at 6:05 pm as Trevor May (3-1) will get his final work of the season. He will be opposed by lefty Cole McCurry (6-8).

SALISBURY, MD – For the second straight ballgame, the bats came alive for the Lakewood BlueClaws as they belted out 16 hits and nine runs in a 9-3 win against the Delmarva Shorebirds on Friday night.

The BlueClaws (34-31) got on the board in the first inning for the second game in a row as they took a 1-0 lead. However the big inning occurred in the third as they strung together five hits and an error to score four runs, all with two outs. In the inning, Jim Murphy continued a streak of four consecutive games with an RBI-double.

In a 5-0 ballgame, Matthew Way, who had a no-hitter through 5.1 innings allowed a hit by pitch, his first hit allowed and a walk, loading the bases with two outs before being lifted. Way (4-1) pitched very well in his tune-up for the BlueClaws first playoff game on September 9^th against the Kannapolis Intimidators.

With the bases loaded, Luke Wertz came on and allowed a walk and a single, scoring three runs combined all charged to Way to make it a 5-3 ballgame. Wertz would settle to get a strikeout to end the inning and work two more scoreless innings in his debut as a BlueClaw. Eryk McConnell pitched a scoreless ninth.

In a 5-3 game the BlueClaws added two runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth to extend their lead to 9-3. The middle of the order was tremendous for the BlueClaws as Murphy reached in all five plate appearances going 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Travis d’Arnaud was 4-for-5 with his lone putout being a shot to the warning track.

The BlueClaws had 12 hits on Thursday with eight runs, and the 16 hits on Friday ties a season high for the BlueClaws this season. This hitting is coming on the heels of nearly a month-long scoring drought.

Oliver Drake (8-9) started for the Shorebirds (8-9) and lasted into the seventh despite allowing 11 hits and seven runs, five earned.

The BlueClaws have won the first two games of this final five-game series of the season and will play game three on Saturday night at 7:05 pm. The game will be the BlueClaws debut for Austin Hyatt (-) who has been outstanding for the Williamsport Crosscutters and he will be opposed by lefty Chris Salberg (3-3).

SALISBURY, MD – A successful debut for newcomer Korey Noles as he makes his first start and pitches very well in a win for the Lakewood BlueClaws against the Delmarva Shorebirds by the score of 8-2. The BlueClaws broke out with their bats on the cool September night in Maryland.

Noles (1-0), a recent call-up from Williamsport, pitched into the seventh as he shined in his first outing with the BlueClaws. He worked 6.2 innings, allowing just one run on three hits and struck out seven. Noles fed the Shorebirds (29-34) a steady diet of off-speed pitches and kept them off balance through the duration of his start.

The BlueClaws (33-31) gave Noles a lead before he even stepped on the mound at Purdue Stadium as they grabbed two runs in the first inning. Korby Mintken walked before back to back doubles by Travis d’Arnaud and Jim Murphy plated two. Both runs scored on the double my Murphy.

The BlueClaws then led 2-1 in the fourth and used back-to-back-to-back hits by Jeremy Hamilton, Travis Mattair and Troy Hanzawa to take a 4-1 lead. Both runs came in to score on the double by Hanzawa.

The BlueClaws added single runs in the seventh and in the ninth to boost their run total to six and they did so on twelve hits.

Ryan O’Shea (8-8) started and struggled against the BlueClaws as he lasted five innings and allowed four runs on seven hits.

The BlueClaws have scored eight runs now twice since July 24^th.

The BlueClaws and the Shorebirds continue their five-game series on Friday at 7:05 pm. The BlueClaws will send Matthew Way (3-1) to the mound in his final regular season start before starting game one of the playoffs and he will be opposed by Oliver Drake (8-8).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – In their regular season home sendoff, the Lakewood BlueClaws allow two late runs to lose 4-2 to the Hagerstown Suns on Wednesday night.

The BlueClaws got out to a one-run lead in the fourth as Harold Garcia walked to lead off the inning and he scored on a two-out double by Jim Murphy to take the lead. Murphy has hit RBI-doubles on consecutive nights.

After BlueClaws (32-31) starter Jesus Sanchez went six scoreless, allowing just two hits, Freddy Ballestas came on with the lead, but allowed two runs in the top of the seventh to make it a 2-1 ballgame in favor of the Suns.

The BlueClaws then made some noise in the bottom half of the inning as they loaded the bases against Carlos Peralta, who allowed a run to score on a wild pitch, but the BlueClaws did no further damage. Infact, the BlueClaws left the bases loaded in back-to-back innings.

In the ninth, still against Ballestas (1-3), the Suns (23-39) pushed two more runs across to take the lead and add insurance and the BlueClaws don’t show any magic in the ninth, going down in order.

The Suns starter, Robinson Fabian went four innings and allowed one run, and reliever Clayton Dill (1-0) got the win as he pitched the eighth, his first of the season.

The Suns, who went 6-15 against the BlueClaws this season, win their first series of the year against them, one week removed from being swept at home.

The BlueClaws end their home schedule with the record of 37-34.

The BlueClaws will now travel to Delmarva to take on the Shorebirds in a five-game series to end the regular season before the playoffs begin on September 9^th. Lakewood will feature lefty and newcomer Korey Noles (-) in his BlueClaws debut and the Shorebirds pitcher is to be determined. The first game of the series will start at 7:05 pm on the Shore Sports Network, 1160am and 1310am.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Travis Mattair hits a seventh-inning inside-the-park home run to break a 2-2 tie and win the game 3-2 for the Lakewood BlueClaws against the Hagerstown Suns on Tuesday night.

Mattair batted with one out in the seventh and sent a ball to the gap in left-center field which got all the way to the wall. Both the centerfielder Chris Curran and the left fielder Valario Heredia got to the wall to find the ball stuck in the wall padding. The fielders put their hands up waiting for a ground rule to be made as Mattair jogged around the bases, touched home and it was ruled a home run. The ball was easily plucked out of the wall.

Lakewood started well, as in the fourth the BlueClaws (32-30) struck for two runs as back-to-back doubles by Travis d’Arnaud and Jim Murphy scored a run and Mattair hit a sacrifice fly to center.

BlueClaws starter Trevor May got into trouble early with his control as he walked four in the first two innings, but settled down to go five innings and not allow a run in a game where he does not factor in the decision. May was relieved by Eryk McConnell (1-1), who allowed a two-run sixth to tie things up before settling to throw scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth.

The game was tied at two and Mattair’s inside-the-park home run gave the BlueClaws the lead before Santo Hernandez came on in the ninth to work his fourth save of the season.

Suns (22-39) starter AJ Morris in his third straight start coming against the BlueClaws worked five innings as well and allowed two runs in a no decision. Ausin Garrett (4-5) came on in relief and allowed the home run and he takes the loss.

With the win, the series is now tied at one and the BlueClaws have won 15 of their 20 meetings this season.

The BlueClaws and the Suns will close out the regular season at FirstEnergy Park with the season finale at 7:05pm. For the BlueClaws, it will be Jesus Sanchez (10-6) on the mound and he will be opposed by Robinson Fabian (3-8).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Lakewood BlueClaws got out to a 3-0 lead on Monday night, but the Hagerstown Suns scored the final five runs of the ballgame and won 5-3.

The BlueClaws (31-30) got out to a great start against Suns (22-38) starter Marcos Frias as they touched him up for three runs in the first two innings. Frias had pitched in his last two starts against the BlueClaws and allowed just one run in 12 innings. However, Frias settled and the BlueClaws came unscrewed.

In the top of the second inning BlueClaws starter Justin De Frauts exited the game with an undisclosed injury and Jordan Ellis came on in relief. Ellis worked a clean two outs to finish the second but struggled in the third.

In the third, Ellis (4-4) got the leadoff hitter Robert Jacobsen but then allowed a double and three free passes, two walks and a hit batter, before a three-run double by Tyler Moore made it a four-run inning and a Suns lead.

Ryan Bergh relieved Ellis and worked well as he did not allow a run in 2.1 innings of work to bridge the gap to Santo Hernandez. In total, Ellis allowed five runs in 3.1 innings.

Frias (9-4) worked a total of five innings to earn the win, his ninth of the season. Frias allowed three runs, two earned on the night. He was relieved by Chris Lugo who was outstanding in relief, going the final four innings.

The loss is the third straight for the BlueClaws. They were the last team in full-season Minor League Baseball to lose three in a row and this is their second such streak.

The BlueClaws will continue their final homestand of the season with game two of a three game series with the Suns at 7:05 pm Tuesday. For the third straight turn in the rotation, Trevor May (3-1) will face AJ Morris (0-3).

EASTLAKE, OH – In the final meeting ever between the Lakewood BlueClaws and the Lake County Captains, the Captains make a late charge to separate themselves from the BlueClaws 8-2.

The teams split their 22 games this season 11 a piece with the BlueClaws loss today. The Captains (35-27) will be moving to the Midwest League next year and will no longer compete in the South Atlantic League.

The game was close throughout, as the BlueClaws (31-29) even had the bases loaded in a 4-2 ballgame in the seventh, but the Captains lengthened their lead with three runs in the inning to make it 7-2.

Lakewood got out to a 1-0 lead in the first as Travis d’Arnaud walked and was singled home by Brian Gump, but then the Captains got to BlueClaws starter Heitor Correa.

Correa (7-8) pitched five innings and did well to only allow three runs because he allowed a total of 14 baserunners through eight hits, five walks and a hit batter. Freddy Ballestas struggled in relief of Correa as he worked 1.2 innings, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks. Jacob Diekman pitched the final 1.1 innings scoreless for the BlueClaws.

The Captains got 5.1 strong innings out of lefty starter TJ McFarland (9-4), who picked up his ninth win of the season. He allowed just one run on three hits with six strikeouts.

In their last two games combined, the BlueClaws have allowed 18 runs on 30 hits.

The BlueClaws finished their six-game road trip with a 4-2 record and come home for their final regular season homestand of the season on Monday at 7:05 pm. The BlueClaws welcome the Hagerstown Suns to FirstEnergy Park, fresh off a three-game sweep if the Suns in Municipal Stadium in Maryland. The BlueClaws will send Justin De Fratus (5-6) to the mound and he will be opposed by Marcos Frias (8-4). This is the third straight time in the rotation these two will meet.

EASTLAKE, OH – The Lakewood BlueClaws used clutch hitting and strong pitching to best the Lake County Captains in game one of a doubleheader on Saturday by the score of 3-2.

In a 2-1 ballgame, with the Captains (33-27) out in front, the BlueClaws (31-27) put together a two-run fifth inning to take the lead for good enroute to their victory. Troy Hanzawa started the inning off with a double, he was moved to third before being singled home by Anthony Gose. Gose was caught stealing, so with no one on, Travis d’Arnaud hit his 13^th home run of the season, and a game winner.

Matthew Way (3-1) took the hill for the start and went the distance for his first complete game as a BlueClaw. He has gone seven innings on three occasions now in his five starts in Lakewood. Way struggled in the Captains two-run second, but came out to dominate the rest of the game. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.

Danny Salazar (5-7) took the loss and struggled in his five innings as he allowed all three BlueClaws runs, including the home run that broke the Captains back.

The BlueClaws have won four games in a row and look to sweep the Captains in game two of the doubleheader which will begin shortly after game one. In game two, Rob Roth (4-3) will make a spot start for the BlueClaws and Trey Haley (4-7) will look for the same stuff that he used in his last outing, a five-inning shutout last week in Lakewood.

EASTLAKE, OH – Despite playing well in the first of the two games of the doubleheader, the Lakewood BlueClaws fell in the second game by nine runs to the Lake County Captains by the score of 10-1.

On a spot start, the BlueClaws (31-28) looked to Rob Roth (4-4) to start the game, but he only lasted one inning. In the first inning, Roth allowed five runs on four hits, and a three-run home run by Nate Recknagel did most of the damage.

On the night, the Captains (34-27) belted out 16 hits, and two home runs, the other by Adam Abraham off of Ryan Bergh. Eryk McConnell relieved Roth in the second and went three innings and allowed three runs before Bergh worked the final two and allowed two.

The Captains scored in every inning, five in the first and one more in each of the next five. They did not have to bat in the seventh inning.

For the Captains, Trey Haley started, but could not go the five innings required to pick up the win. He went 4.1 and allowed one run and struck out seven. Instead, Kaimi Mead (5-3) picked up the win as he worked 1.2 innings.

The loss ended the BlueClaws four-game win streak and was a split of the team’s doubleheader. The BlueClaws are 5-7 in doubleheaders this season.

The BlueClaws will play their final game of a three-game series with the Captains on Sunday at 1pm. The BlueClaws will look to Heitor Correa (7-7) as their starter and he will be opposed by TJ McFarland (8-4).

HAGERSTOWN, MD – The Lakewood BlueClaws have turned around their recent run of results with a three-game sweep of the Hagerstown Suns on the road with a comfortable 7-2 win on Thursday night.

The BlueClaws (30-27), have had the Suns (18-39) number all season long to the tune of a 14-4 record with three more to play next week against the affiliates of the Washington Nationals.

BlueClaws pitching has been dominating against the Suns and Trevor May’s performance was no different. The righty went five innings, earning his third win of the year as he allowed one run. May (3-1) struggled a little with his control, walking six, but worked out with runners on base.

The BlueClaws took the lead, and did so for good in the first inning as they put up four runs on the Sun’s starter AJ Morris. Anthony Gose reached on an error, one of three on the game for the Suns, stole second and scored on a single by Travis d’Arnaud. The BlueClaws then added three more, an RBI-single by Travis Mattair, and a two-RBI single by Vladimir De Los Santos and the game was blown open early.

Morris (0-3) lasted just two outs into the fourth allowing seven runs, two earned on eight hits. All four first inning runs were unearned.

The BlueClaws would then add a run in the third and two more in the fourth to build a 7-1 lead as the Suns scored their lone run in the bottom half of the first.

Freddy Ballestas was good in relief for the BlueClaws, going two scoreless before giving way to Jordan Ellis. Ellis worked the eighth and allowed a run as he threw two wild pitches in a row. He pitched the ninth and ran into some control issues but finished the game.

The BlueClaws walked a season high ten batters on the night.

Mattair had a three-hit game, as well as d’Arnaud as the BlueClaws belted out 13 hits on the night.

The game was delayed for roughly 25 minutes due to a power outage to the stadium lights.

After the sweep, the BlueClaws and their 36-22 road record will continue their six-game road trip with three games against the Lake County Captains. On Friday at 7:05 pm, the BlueClaws will send Matthew Way (2-1) to the mound and he will be opposed by righty Danny Salazar (5-6).  

HAGERSTOWN, MD – The Lakewood BlueClaws and Hagerstown Suns both scored in the first inning, but were held scoreless until the ninth. That’s when the BlueClaws broke-through with a run, and held on for a 3-1 win on Wednesday night.

For his seventh straight outing, Justin De Fratus went at least six innings and was again very good. He went seven innings, allowing just one run and struck out ten without walking a batter.

For his second straight outing, Suns starter, Marcos Frias, was equally as good as he went six, allowed one run and struck out five. Neither Frias nor De Fratus factored into the decision.

The BlueClaws (29-27) took the lead in the first inning, as Travis d’Arnaud stretched a single into a double with two outs and then was brought home on a single by Jim Murphy but the lead was short-lived. In the bottom half of the inning, the Suns (18-37) tacked on a run of their own but the team’s bats would go quiet.

The game stayed at 1-1 until the top of the ninth inning as the BlueClaws broke the tie with Troy Hanzawa reaching on an error and then being brought home on a single by Anthony Gose. The BlueClaws added another run of insurance before Santo Hernandez pitched the bottom half of the ninth for his third save of the year. This is the first time that Hernandez has worked on back-to-back nights for the BlueClaws this season.

Jacob Diekman (2-0) pitched a scoreless eighth and was the lucky winner of his second game of the season. Patrick Aronld (3-5) allowed the late runs and took the loss.

The BlueClaws have won 13 of the 17 meetings between the two teams on year.

The BlueClaws and Suns will finish their three-game series on Thursday as the BlueClaws will look for the sweep. The BlueClaws will send tall righty Trevor May (2-1) to the mound and the Suns will counter with righty AJ Morris (0-2).

HAGERSTOWN, MD – The Lakewood BlueClaws have been dominant all season against the Hagerstown Suns and the series opener on Tuesday was no different. Jesus Sanchez game the BlueClaws a sparkling performance on the mound in an 8-0 win.

Sanchez (10-6), the first BlueClaws pitcher to reach ten wins, went seven innings, giving up just five hits and struck out three without allowing a run. This is his fourth win against the Suns this season. Ryan Bergh worked a shaky but clean eighth inning and Santo Hernandez worked the ninth in a non-save situation.

The BlueClaws (28-27) took the lead in the fourth inning with a pair of runs. In the inning, with one out, newcomer Brian Gump walked as did Jeremy Hamilton and with two on, Vladimir De Los Santos hit a sun-aided double to right, misplayed by Robert Jacobsen and both runs scored.

The BlueClaws added to their lead in the very next inning with one more run as Antony Gose singled, stole his 70^th base and scored on a sacrifice fly by Travis d’Arnaud. Gose is the first player in all of baseball, Major and Minor Leagues to reach that number.

In the top of the eighth, Harold Garcia knocked in Vladimir De Los Santos from second for their fourth run of the game. With two outs, d’Arnaud added a two-run single for a total of 3 RBIs on the day for a commanding 6-0 lead.

The BlueClaws added another two runs in the ninth.

For the Suns (18-36), starter Juan Jaime (2-1) went just four innings in his first loss of the year, he allowed two runs. The Suns bullpen then combined for the remaining five innings and six runs.

In 16 games this season the BlueClaws have won 12 times against the Suns this season. After being shutout for the third time this season and twice in one week last week, the BlueClaws tossed their eighth shutout of the season.

The BlueClaws and Suns will resume their three-game series on Wednesday as they play game two at 7:05 pm. The BlueClaws will look to Justin De Fratus (5-6), who has gone at least six innings in his last six starts and the Suns will put Marcos Frias (8-4) on the mound.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – For the first time this season the Lakewood BlueClaws have been swept. The BlueClaws lost game two of the doubleheader against the Lake County Captains by the score of 8-3 on Monday night.

The game was hard-fought early on as both teams traded a pair of runs in the second inning, the bottom half of the inning featured the first of two home runs on the day for Jim Murphy. Murphy also homered in the sixth and is the only BlueClaws (27-27) player to have hit two home runs in the same game this season.

Heitor Correa (7-7) struggled and took the loss as he went just four innings and allowed seven runs on ten hits. He did not strike out a single batter. Jacob Diekman relieved Correa after three reached in the fifth and allowed an inherited runner and another runner to score. Freddy Ballestas worked two scoreless after Diekman to end the game.

Captain’s (32-24) starter TJ McFarland (8-4) had poor numbers this season against the BlueClaws entering the game, but ended up grabbing the win and allowing just one earned run over five innings.

The BlueClaws will now hit the road for six games before returning home on August 31^st for three more games. The BlueClaws will face Hagerstown for three and then play at Lake County for three. On Tuesday, the BlueClaws will send Jesus Sanchez (9-6) to the mound and he will be opposed by Marcos Frias (8-4).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Brett Myers started and worked a clean inning in the first, but the Lakewood BlueClaws were shut out for the third time this season, this time, by the Lake County Captains 2-0 in game one of a doubleheader on Monday.

The former Phillies Opening Day starter is rehabbing from having hip surgery early in the season and hasn’t pitched for the Phillies since May 27^th. In his second rehab outing since his return, Myers went one inning with the BlueClaws, got a ground ball and a strikeout before allowing a walk and ending the inning on a fly ball to center field. He threw 14 pitches, seven for strikes.

Rob Roth (4-3) then came on in the second inning and worked clean until the third where he allowed a run in each the third and fourth. The Captains (31-24) took a 2-0 lead early in the seven-inning game.

The BlueClaws (27-26) had chances in the fifth and sixth inning, but couldn’t push any runs across the plate. Trey Haley (4-7), who has had control problems this season, was splendid in five innings. He allowed three hits, walked two and struck out seven. Kaimi Mead worked a clean sixth and closer Steve Smith picked up his 23^rd save in an easy seventh inning.

The BlueClaws have never been swept this season in a series or a doubleheader and that will be put on the line in game two, beginning shortly after game one. Heitor Correa (7-6) will face TJ McFarland (7-4) in the contest. Between games, the BlueClaws welcomed their 4 millionth fan to FirstEnergy Park in team history. Check BlueClaws.com for more information.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Due to inclement weather, the Lakewood BlueClaws and the Lake County Captains contest on Sunday has been postponed. The game will be made up as a doubleheader, including two seven-inning games, at 5:05 pm on Monday.

For the BlueClaws, rehabbing Major Leaguer Brett Myers will still pitch in Lakewood, and will start the first game. For the Captains, Trey Haley will still be the starter.

For those fans who had tickets to the game on Sunday, tickets may be exchanged in person at the BlueClaws Box Office for any remaining 2009 regular season game. The ticket to the Sunday, August 23^rd game must be presented.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – In a game where the Lakewood BlueClaws could not get a hit until the sixth, they pulled back a 3-0 deficit with a four-run eighth and won the game on a bases loaded double play in the ninth 4-3 on Saturday night.

The Captains (30-24) took the lead in the third, in the only inning where starter Matthew Way really struggled. Way, after getting a fly out to center, allowed back-to-back singles which scored a run before an RBI-double by Chris Nash and another RBI, this time a single for Donnie Webb making it a 3-0 game.

Nick Hagadone started and was very good in his scheduled three innings, not allowing a hit and striking out five. He gave way to Danny Salazar (5-6) who continued that no-hit success until the sixth with two runners on and Jim Murphy at the plate. Murphy hit the ball high and deep to left, and the ball landed on top of the wall for a ground-rule double. The hit scored a run and ended the no-hitter, making it a 3-1 game.

In the bottom of the eighth, the BlueClaws (27-25) began their comeback. The first three hitters, Brendan Akashian, Anthony Gose and Harold Garcia reached base and Travis d’Arnaud hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly, scoring Akashian and advancing Gose to third. The next batter was Murphy and he hit a shallow fly ball to right, despite the length of the fly ball, Gose scored on the play and tied the game up at three. With Garcia on second, Vladimir De Los Santos stroked a double to the gap in right-center field and gave the BlueClaws a 4-3 lead.

Matthew Way went six innings and allowed just the three runs in the third. He

struck out eight and walked one. Jordan Ellis (4-3) then pitched clean innings in the seventh and eighth before Ryan Bergh came on in the ninth. In the ninth, the Captains loaded the bases with one out and Donnie Webb grounded the ball up the middle, where Harold Garcia stepped on second base, threw to first and ended the game with a double play.

The BlueClaws and the Captains will continue their three-game series on Sunday at 5:05pm. For the BlueClaws, they will send Heitor Correa (7-6) to the mound and he will be opposed by righty Trey Haley (3-7). The BlueClaws are also poised to welcome their 4 millionth fan since the team opened the doors in 2001 sometime before the game on Sunday.  

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Travis Mattair doubled to start the ninth inning and the Lakewood BlueClaws would turn that double into the game winning run in a 3-2 victory against the Hagerstown Suns in the series finale on Friday night.

The BlueClaws, in a 2-2 ballgame had runners on first and second after the double and a walk to Korby Mintken before Troy Hanzawa hit a ground ball to third which was misplayed by Nick Arata and dribbled into the outfield scoring D’Arby Myers, who pinch ran for Mattair for the game-winning run.

The Suns had three errors on the day and the second error was made by shortstop Steve Souza in the seventh on a groundball hit by TJ Warren which game the BlueClaws a 2-1 lead.

The game began rough for BlueClaws starter Trevor May who allowed the first four batters of the game to reach, and a run to score before getting out of the inning down just one run. Freddy Ballestas was warmed up in the first just in case May could not work out, but instead, came on in the sixth inning after five innings and just the one run allowed by May. Ballestas worked a clean 1.1 and Jacob Diekman allowed a run in the same amount of innings before Santo Hernandez (5-2) pitched another 1.1 and got the win.

Suns starter AJ Morris was equally as effective as May, allowing a run over five innings but Carlos Peralta (4-7) was again hurt by the BlueClaws bats as he took the loss in the ninth, his second loss of the season against the BlueClaws. He also has blown two saves this year against the BlueClaws.

With the win, the BlueClaws are back above the .500 mark and won the series two games to one.

The BlueClaws will now open a three-game series with the Lake County Captains on Saturday night at 7:05. The BlueClaws and Captains will feature a battle of lefties as Matthew Way (2-1) will start opposite of Nick Hagadone (0-2).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – After a night where the Lakewood BlueClaws scored in just one inning, they don’t score at all as the Hagerstown Suns shut out the BlueClaws 2-0 on Thursday.

The Suns (17-33) took the lead early on in the games third inning as they got a two-out double off of BlueClaws (25-25) starter Justin De Fratus. De Fratus (5-6) would keep things that way through his outing as he scattered eight hits in six innings while striking out eight. He has now gone at least six innings in his last six starts.

The Suns added to their lead in the eighth as they had five base hits, scoring just one run because of poor base running off of reliever Rob Roth, who also worked a clean seventh.

The BlueClaws had just two hits and three total base runners off of Suns starter Marcos Frias (8-4), who went six full and did not allow a run. Robinson Fabian took over in the seventh and went the final three innings scoreless for his first save of the year.

The BlueClaws had their chances and put two runners in scoring position in the ninth but were shut out for the second time this season. They were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in the ballgame.

The BlueClaws and Suns will play the third game and rubber match of the series on Friday night at 7:05. The BlueClaws will send tall righty Trevor May (2-1) to the mound and he will be opposed by AJ Morris (0-2).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – There were five runs scored in the fifth inning, two for the Hagerstown Suns and three for the Lakewood BlueClaws as the teams did not score in any other inning in a 3-2 ballgame on Wednesday night.

The two teams each had big fifth innings, but it was the BlueClaws who out-scored the Suns in the inning where the only runs in the game were scored. In the top half of the inning, the Suns scored two off of BlueClaws starter Jesus Sanchez.

In the bottom half of the inning, the BlueClaws (25-24) strung together five hits and three runs to take a 3-2 lead. In the inning, Harold Garcia singled before an RBI-double by Travis d’Arnaud, an RBI-triple by Jim Murphy and another RBI-double by Jeremy Hamilton.

Sanchez (9-6) picks up the win and is now tied in wins with All-Star break departure Jon Velasquez. He went 5.1 innings and struck out seven while allowing two runs. Sanchez left the game in the sixth with two on and one out as Eryk McConnell came into the game. McConnell struck out the two batters he faced, then worked two more clean innings before Santo Hernandez picked up his second save of the year. The BlueClaws remain perfect in save opportunities since the departure of BJ Rosenberg.

Juan Jamie started and lasted just three innings for the Suns (16-33) as he lacked control but did not allow a run. Patrick Arnold (3-3) then pitched two and picked up the loss, allowing the three-run fifth inning.

The BlueClaws belted out nine hits and d’Arnaud reached all four times he batted with a pair of doubles and two walks. The win puts the BlueClaws above the .500 mark in the second half.

The BlueClaws and the Suns will play game two of their three-game series on Thursday at 7:05 pm. For the BlueClaws Justin De Fratus (5-5), who has had a string of impressive performances, will get his call to the mound and he will be opposed by righty Marcos Frias (7-4).

CHARLESTON, SC – The Lakewood BlueClaws have fallen into an offensive funk over the past few weeks and do so on Monday night as they lose the road trip and series finale to the Charleston Riverdogs 4-1.

In his first start of the season Daniel Kapala (6-0) went a surprise five innings after being scheduled for four innings or 60 pitches. He allowed just two hits and one walk with two strikeouts in the win.

The Riverdogs (22-27) got out to a hot start against BlueClaws starter Heitor Correa (7-6), who has seen first-inning struggles all season long. Correa had a pair of extra base hits allowed in the inning and two runs. He settled down to work six, allowed two more unearned in the third, but took the loss. Jacob Diekman hurled two scoreless in relief.

The BlueClaws (24-24) had just five hits, three off the bat of Jeremy Hamilton, who had two doubles among those three hits. The BlueClaws scored their lone run in the eighth inning on an Anthony Gose double.

The BlueClaws finished a rain-shortened eight game road trip after six games. The BlueClaws won two against the Savannah Sand Gnats before losing three of four to the Riverdogs. This was the first road series loss of the second half.

After an off day on Tuesday the BlueClaws return home for a six-game homestand with three games against the Hagerstown Suns and then three against the Lake County Captains. The series on Wednesday begins at 7:05 pm and will feature Jesus Sanchez (8-6) for the BlueClaws and Juan Jaime (2-0) for the suns.

CHARLESTON, SC – Travis d’Arnaud drew a bases loaded walk as part of a four-run sixth inning to put the BlueClaws up 5-4 and they would go on to a 6-4 win Sunday night over Charleston.

Jim Murphy homered (12) to start the four-run sixth inning, and the BlueClaws sent ten men to the plate, tying the game on an infield hit by Anthony Gose and taking the lead when Gabriel Tatis walked d’Arnaud with the bases loaded.

Murphy added an RBI double in the 8^th for an insurance run, and Santo Hernandez got the last six outs for his first save of the year with Lakewood and third overall (he had two with Clearwater).

The BlueClaws had dropped the first two games of this series, and avoided what would have been just their second three-game losing streak of 2009.

Lakewood got on the board in the fourth on a D’Arby Myers RBI single to tie the game at one, but the Riverdogs scored three in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead.

BlueClaws starter Matthew Way gave up four runs over five innings in his third Lakewood start, but improved to 2-1. Freddy Ballestas threw two perfect innings of relief.

The BlueClaws and RiverDogs finish their series on Monday night at 7:05. RHP Heitor Correa (7-5, 3.70) throws for Lakewood against RHP Dan Kapala (5-0, 3.15). Listen to the action on the Shore Sports Network (1160 WOBM-AM or Fox Sports 1310) beginning at 6:50.

Lakewood returns home for a six-game homestand beginning Wednesday night at FirstEnergy Park.

CHARLESTON, SC – Jose Pirela had a 7^th inning RBI single to cap a two-run inning for Charleston as they came back to beat Lakewood 3-2 on Saturday night.

Pirela’s hit, which came off Ryan Bergh (3-5), followed Ray Kruml, who had an RBI triple to tie the game. Chuck Nolte (3-2) threw a shutout 7^th and picked up the win, whole Jeff Williams had a 1-2-3 9^th for his second save of the season.

The RiverDogs (21-26) have taken the first two games of the four-game series, and Lakewood (23-23) falls to 2-2 on their road trip.

Charleston led 1-0 after four, thanks to a 4^th inning RBI single by Melky Mesa, but the BlueClaws answered with two runs in the 5^th. Travis Mattair scored on an error by the second baseman Corban Joseph and Harold Garcia gave the BlueClaws the lead with an RBI single.

Trevor May lasted five for Lakewood, allowing one run on two hits. Jacob Diekman threw a shutout 6^th before Bergh gave up the two runs in the 7^th inning to take the loss.

The BlueClaws left seven on base and have left 16 on in the first two games of the series while having scored just three runs.

The teams will continue play the third of their four-game series on Sunday night at 5:05. LHP Matthew Way (1-1, 0.64) throws for Lakewood against RHP Brandon Braboy (3-5, 4.24) for Charleston. You can hear the action on the Shore Sports Network (1160 WOBM-AM and Fox Sports 1310) beginning at 4:50.

CHARLESTON, SC – Corban Joseph scored from third on a bases loaded groundout by Garrison Lassiter as Charleston beat Lakewood 2-1 on Friday night.

Jordan Ellis (3-3) had loaded the bases with nobody out and got Addison Maruszak to ground to short to force the first runner at home, but Joseph barely beat a throw home by second baseman Harold Garcia to give Charleston the win in the series opener.

Gabriel Tatis (1-1) got the win. The BlueClaws did not record a hit off of Tatis, who pitched the ninth, or Manny Banuelos, who threw the 7^th and 8^th for the Riverdogs.

BlueClaws starter Justin De Fratus allowed one run, in the first inning, on five hits over seven innings. It’s the fourth time in his last five starts that De Fratus has gone at least seven innings, though he did not factor in the decision.

Charleston starter Brett Smith gave up just one run over six innings.

Lakewood scored in the 5^th on a Garcia single to bring in Troy Hanzawa and left nine runners on base in the game, five in scoring position.

Anthony Gose stole two more bases for Lakewood, to bring his Minor League Baseball leading total to 66 on the season.

The BlueClaws and RiverDogs continue their series Saturday night at 7:05. RHP Treovr May (2-1) throws for Lakewood against RHP Cory Arbiso (4-7). You can hear all the action on the Shore Sports Network (1160 WOBM-AM and Fox Sports 1310) at beginning with the pre-game show at 6:50.

SAVANNAH, GA - The rain was too much for the field to handle for the second straight day on Thursday and it has washed out the two remaining games the Lakewood BlueClaws (23-21) and Savannah Sand Gnats (20-23) had to play. The games are unlikely to be made up.

After winning both games played in Savannah, GA, the BlueClaws will now travel to Charleston, SC to take on the RiverDogs in a four-game series before returning home on August 19th. The starters are unknown for this 7:05 pm game.

SAVANNAH, GA - The BlueClaws and Sand Gnats were rained out on Wednesday night in Savannah. The game will be made up as part of a double-header on Thursday, beginning at 5:30.

The BlueClaws have won the first two games of the series and will send RHP Trevor May (2-1) and RHP Justin De Fratus (5-5) to the hill.

You can listen to the game at www.shoresportsnetwork.com beginning at 5:20.

SAVANNAH, GA – The Lakewood BlueClaws benefited from nine walks and an error as they came-from-behind to beat the Savannah Sand Gnats 8-4 on Tuesday night.

The ten free baserunners were critical for the BlueClaws who used three-run seventh and eighth innings to turn around a 4-2 scoreline.

Heitor Correa started for the BlueClaws (23-21) and was solid over five innings, allowing just one run but picked up a no decision. Rob Roth (4-2) picked up the win despite allowing three runs in the sixth to the Sand Gnats (20-23). Eryk McConnell picked up his first save of the season as, for the second night in a row; a BlueClaws reliever went two scoreless to finish the ballgame.

Kyle Allen started and got a no decision as he went five innings and allowed just one run, but the bullpen then allowed seven runs over the last four innings. John Church (0-2) picked up the loss as he allowed the game winner in his 2/3 innings of work.

For the BlueClaws, Jesus Villegas had three RBIs and D’Arby Myers had both a double and a triple as the BlueClaws belted out ten hits.

The BlueClaws are now 11-10 in their last 21 games in streaks of hot and cold.

The BlueClaws will look for their third straight win against the Sand Gnats as the series continues on Wednesday at 7:05 pm. The BlueClaws will send Trevor May (2-1) to the mound and he will be opposed by Jeurys Familia (9-6).

SAVANNAH, GA – Matthew Way, in just his second start as a Lakewood BlueClaw was sparkling in his start en route to a 4-0 shutout win on Monday night against the Savannah Sand Gnats.

The newest BlueClaws pitcher, in just his second start was a dominating force for the second time in a row. Through his seven innings, Way (1-1) allowed just three hits and struck out 11. He did not walk a batter and even ran a streak of 15 in a row retired.

The BlueClaws (22-21) shot out to a two-run lead in the top of the first inning as Korby Mintken was a one-out walk, and he was doubled home on the next swing of the bat by Travis d’Arnaud. After a line out, Jeremy Hamilton walked before Travis Mattair reached on an error by third baseman Jefry Marte, loading the bases. With the bases loaded Troy Hanzawa singled and made it 2-0 before the inning ended.

The BlueClaws added to their lead in the fourth as Jesus Villegas doubled and was advanced to third as D’Arby Myers reached on an error by Marte, Villegas then scored on an RBI-groundout by the man celebrating his 19^th birthday, Anthony Gose.

The BlueClaws tacked on one more in the ninth as D’Arby Myers was hit by a pitch, stole second and then scored on a single by Gose.

The Sand Gnats (20-22) were held off the scoreboard first by Way and then by Jordan Ellis, who pitched the eighth and the ninth, earning his first save of the season. The shutout was the seventh of the season for the BlueClaws.

The Sand Gnats starter Eric Beaulac (6-7) only lasted four innings as he allowed five hits and three runs, one earned. The bullpen combined to finish the final five innings.

After a 3-6 homestand, the BlueClaws started their eight game road trip with a win. They went 5-3 on their last road trip.

The BlueClaws and Sand Gnats will play game two of their four-game series on Tuesday at 7:05 pm. The BlueClaws will look to Heitor Correa (7-5) and the Sand Gnats will start Kyle Allen (7-6)   

LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Lakewood BlueClaws were stymied all game long by the Lake County Captains pitching and starter TJ House finally got the run support he needed in a 7-1 victory on Saturday night in the final game of a five-game series.

The Captains (23-19) scored early and often on starter Jesus Sanchez (8-6), who struggled for the first time in a long time. This is his first loss in a string of six winning decisions. Sanchez allowed runs in the second through the fifth as he pitched five and allowed six earned on nine hits.

His counterpart, TJ House (4-8), had been lacking in run support all season, evidenced by his poor record but sub-three ERA after his sparkling outing against the BlueClaws. House went six and allowed just one hit, a double, which hit off the glove of centerfielder Donnie Webb after a long run to the wall. His performance was followed by two clean innings by Travis Turek.

The BlueClaws (21-21) ended the day with just two hits and one run, one of the hits and the run came in the ninth off of Anillins Martinez. Rob Roth pitched two scoreless and Jacob Diekman one, whereas Ryan Bergh allowed a run in the ninth.

The BlueClaws struggled mightily during the nine-game homestand as they went just 3-6. The BlueClaws lost four of five to the Captains, a team that had handled well previous to this series.

The BlueClaws will have an off day before embarking on their longest, in miles, road trip of the season. Starting on Monday, the BlueClaws will play four against the Savannah Sand Gnats and then four against the Charleston RiverDogs. On Monday, the BlueClaws will start Matthew Way (0-1) for the second time after an impressive debut, he will be opposed by righty Kyle Allen (7-6)

LAKEWOOD, NJ – After a night where the Lakewood BlueClaws got a big hit with runners in scoring position, it was more of the same on this homestand, stranding runners and being shut down with runners on. The BlueClaws fell 8-4 to the Lake County Captains on Friday night.

In a crazy game, BlueClaws (21-20) starter Justin De Fratus struggled in the second inning before settling down nicely. In the second, a 36-pitch inning, De Fratus allowed singles to lead things off by Karexon Sanchez and Donnie Webb before the first run-scoring double of the inning, this one by John Allman. The Captains (22-19) then got Michael Valadez on with a hit by pitch, same result to Mark Thompson before the second, two-run double, this one by Bo Greenwell.

De Fratus (5-5) only allowed 51 pitches in the other five innings combined as he worked six in the game.

The BlueClaws though, were nipped again by the hitting with runners in scoring position bug as the BlueClaws let a number of chances get away. The first of which was in a two-run fourth, Jim Murphy grounded into a double play with runners at the corners and no one out.

The second missed opportunity was in a one-run fifth as the BlueClaws had the bases loaded and Francisco Jiminez (3-0) came in with no outs and struck out three straight to keep the Captains in the lead.

The third big missed opportunity came in the seventh as the BlueClaws had a run in with the bases loaded and one out and Matthew Langwell got Travis d’Arnaud to ground into a 4-6-3 double play.

TJ McFarland worked well in the first three innings, but struggled in the fourth and was lifted in the fifth. He allowed two runs.

For the BlueClaws, Travis Mattair had two hits, his fourth extra-base hit in as many days and Troy Hanzawa and Kyle Lafrez also added two hits.

In a 4-3 game in the seventh, Freddy Ballestas came into the ballgame and struggled. He allowed three runs, after getting ahead of the first hitter he walked Jermie Tice and the wheels seemed to have fallen off.

The BlueClaws have struggled on this nine-game homestand and are just 3-5 in the eight games.

The BlueClaws and Captains will wrap things up on Saturday at 7:05, the final game in both the homestand and the five-game series. The BlueClaws will send Jesus Sanchez (8-5) to the mound, the lone pitcher not to start in this series and the Captains will start their third straight lefty TJ House (3-8).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Lakewood BlueClaws have been looking for big hits with runners in scoring position for the past few games and Kyle Lafrenz finally provided one with the bases loaded in the eighth. His bases-clearing double with two out in a 5-4 game gave the BlueClaws a 7-5 victory against the Lake County Captains.

The Captains (21-19) got out to an early lead as, with one out, Delvi Cid singled in the infield and stole second base. With two outs, Jeremy Tice singled to center and the throw home from center was late, scoring Cid.

The BlueClaws (21-19) tied the game up in the next half inning as Anthony Gose singled with two outs, stole second base and then scored on a bloop single by Jesus Villegas.

The BlueClaws took the lead in the fourth as Jim Murphy singled, advanced to second and scored on a single by Troy Hanzawa with two outs.

The Captains however got two in the fifth as Bo Greenwell scored on a double by Jeremy Tice and Tice scored as Donnie Webb singled the ball back up the middle, hitting starter Trevor May and allowing the run to score. May exited the ballgame after being struck.

The BlueClaws tied the game in the bottom half of the inning as Warren walked to lead things off and he moved to second as Anthony Gose singled. The pitcher, Chris Jones, tried a pickoff attempt and threw the ball into center; Warren came home from second and made it 3-3.

The Captains would tally in the seventh to go ahead 4-3 but the BlueClaws tied it as Warren tripled and Gose hit a sacrifice to make it 4-4.

The back-and-forth trend continued as the Captains took the lead 5-4 in the top of the eighth as Donnie Webb tripled and also scored on a sacrifice and in the bottom of the inning; the BlueClaws loaded the bases for Kyle Lafrenz to do the damage. Lafrenz took Chris Jones to a full count and sent the ball screaming into center for a bases-clearing double and a 7-5 lead.

On the same day closer BJ Rosenberg gets promoted to Reading, the BlueClaws find themselves in a save situation and its Ryan Bergh’s chance to slam the door shut. Bergh, who shined in the same role early in the season, worked a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for his 12^th save of the year.

May went 4.2 and allowed three runs while striking out seven and gave way to Jordan Ellis (3-2) who worked the next 3.1 innings.

Nick Hagadone, in his first start since being sent over from the Boston Red Sox pitched the first three innings and struck out five in the no decision as Chris Jones (5-3) struggled in the next 4.2. He allowed six runs, five earned.

The BlueClaws and Captains will play game four of the five-game series on Friday at 7:05 pm. In that contest, the BlueClaws will send Justin De Fratus (5-4) to the mound and he will be opposed by TJ McFarland (6-4).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Missed opportunities bite the Lakewood BlueClaws again as they fall in extras against the Lake County Captains on Wednesday afternoon 3-2 in eleven.

The BlueClaws (20-19), tied at two in seventh and in the ninth, had runners in scoring position with no outs and failed to score. They went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position in this ballgame and 1-for-15 on Tuesday.

In the eleventh, Rob Roth came into the ballgame, allowed a single to lead off the inning by Donnie Webb and he eventually scored on a wild pitch, giving the Captains (21-18) the lead for good 3-2.

Heitor Correa started the game on a sour note, allowing the first two Captains to reach and giving up two runs in the inning. The BlueClaws had a pitcher warming in the first, but Correa settled down and ended up shutting down the Captains from the second on through the sixth. He went six full, allowing two runs and striking out six.

The BlueClaws tied the game at two with two runs in the fifth. Travis Mattair led the inning off with a double and scored as a pair of groundballs moved him over and in. The second run was aided by an error by third baseman Daniel DeGeorge, and a single by D’Arby Myers.

Roth (3-2), who allowed the run in the eleventh, took the loss and the win went to Anillins Martinez (2-3) while Matthew Langwell picked up the save.

Mattair had two doubles on the day and BJ Rosenberg pitched two clean innings in the eighth and ninth, adding to his total of consecutive shutout innings. He has not allowed an earned run since May 31^st, a span of 28.2 innings.

The BlueClaws and the Captains will continue their five-game series on Thursday night at 7:05. The BlueClaws will look to Trevor May (2-1) to stop their losing streak and Nick Hagadone (0-2), acquired in the trade for catcher Victor Martinez, will make his Captains debut.  

LAKEWOOD, NJ – A late run in the eighth inning gave the Lake County Captains a two-run lead as they held on 4-3 against the Lakewood BlueClaws on Tuesday night.

For the first time all homestand the BlueClaws (20-18) took the early lead in the first inning as Anthony Gose led the game off with a triple to left field. He scored on the very next batter; a grounder to short off the bat of Troy Hanzawa made it 1-0.

The Captains (20-18) got on the board with two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth off of Matt Way in his first start as a BlueClaw. Way (0-1), up after pitching very well for the Williamsport Crosscutters, went seven full innings, the third starter to do so in a row, as he allowed one earned run and struck out nine. Tuesday was a very nice start to Way’s career as a BlueClaw.

The BlueClaws, scored in the fourth as Travis Mattair lined a triple to left and then scored on a grounder by Vladimir De Los Santos, the same way the BlueClaws scored in the first.

Lake County added a run in the eighth off of Freddy Ballestas in his return to the bullpen and it was a very important run as the BlueClaws put a run across in the ninth and had runners on second and third with two outs. Steve Smith the Captains closer got Travis d’Aruand to strike out swinging, ending the game.

Danny Salazar (4-4) picked up the win; he went five innings and allowed two runs on six hits. He was relieved by Trey Turek and Steve Smith who held the lead.

The BlueClaws were not shot for chances in this game as they ended 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

The BlueClaws and the Captains will continue their five-game series and this nine-game homestand on Wednesday in the afternoon at 11:05. The BlueClaws will look to Heitor Correa (7-5) and the Captains will start Trey Haley (3-6).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Jesus Sanchez was very strong again, picking up his eighth win and anchoring a strong night for the pitching staff in a 3-1 win. The win for the BlueClaws salvaged a split in what was a four game series, ending on Monday night.

One constant in the second half has been the pitching of Sanchez, who again pitched very well. The righty and converted catcher from Venezuela went seven innings, allowed just one run and striking out nine. Sanchez (8-5) has won his last six decisions and seven of his last eight.

For the fourth time in the four games the BlueClaws have played the Crawdads, the visitors took the early lead and again it was in the first, again it was Cody Podraza. In this series, Podraza has scored in three of the four games in the first inning. This time he singles to start the game and scores for the third time on a double, this time by Miguel Alfonso to make it 1-0.

The BlueClaws however, would take the lead on one swing of the bat in the second inning. After a leadoff walk by Travis Mattair, Vladimir De Los Santos hit his third home run of the season, a blast past the grass seating area in left field to make it 2-1. The BlueClaws never lost the lead.

The lead grew to two in the third inning as Travis d’Arnaud walked with one out, Jim Murphy reached on an error and Mattair singled with two outs and it was a 3-1 lead for the BlueClaws.

The back of the bullpen took over in the eighth inning as Ryan Bergh worked a perfect 8^th and BJ Rosenberg continued his amazing shutout streak with his 19^th save and a perfect ninth. For Rosenberg, he has not allowed a run since May 31^st, a streak of 26.2 innings.

The series with the Captains, a five-gamer, will begin on Tuesday at 7:05 pm as the BlueClaws will have a new face on the mound. Matt Way, a fifth round selection in this year’s draft will pitch for the BlueClaws after playing very well for the short-season Williamsport Crosscutters. Way is the second lefty on the BlueClaws staff and the only one in the rotation. The Captains will counter with Danny Salazar (3-4).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – A two-run seventh inning put the Hickory Crawdads ahead and they held on despite a late charge by the Lakewood BlueClaws on Sunday night in a 3-2 win.

The Crawdads (20-15) got out to an early lead in the third inning off BlueClaws starter Justin De Fratus as they scored a run off a double and an error.

The BlueClaws (19-17) responded in the bottom of the fifth as TJ Warren walked to lead off the inning, was send around the bases to third before being batted home on an RBI-groundout off the bat of Troy Hanzawa.

The game was a matchup of two young and highly touted starters for both the Phillies and Texas Rangers organizations, De Fratus and Martin Perez. In the game, Perez went five innings and allowed one run while striking out nine and De Fratus went seven innings and allowed three runs, two earned. This is the third straight start that De Fratus went at least seven innings.

The Crawdads got to De Fratus (5-4) in the top of the seventh for two runs as they coaxed two walks, a fielders choice and a sacrifice fly past the tall righty from Ventura, CA to take a 3-1 lead.

The Crawdads would then hang on as the BlueClaws pushed a run across in the ninth, and with a runner on third, Cody Eppley struck out Anthony Gose to end the game Corey Ragsdale (1-0) pitched two innings and got the win, and Eppley got the save.

The loss gives the Crawdads a 2-1 series lead as the two teams will finish their four-game series on Monday night at 7:05. The BlueClaws will go with Jesus Sanchez (7-5), who has been tremendous in the second half and the Crawdads will counter with Neil Ramirez (3-2).

Before the game, the BlueClaws placed Harold Garcia on the seven-day DL with an injury to his hand.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Down 4-3 in the tenth, Troy Hanzawa doubled, Korby Mintken singled, as well as Jim Murphy and the Lakewood BlueClaws scored two runs, in a come-from-behind win against the Hickory Crawdads 5-4. The win ended the BlueClaws season-high three-game losing streak.

In a battle between two young top prospects, starters Wilmer Font, for the Crawdads (19-15) and Trevor May, for the BlueClaws (19-16) battled deep into the ballgame. Both May and Font had their troubles in the first inning, but settled down to pitch well.

May’s struggles came first as he walked the leadoff man Cody Podraza and then allowed an RBI-double to Erik Morrison to make it a 1-0 game. That sequence occurred in the 2-1 loss in Friday as well. After the double, Morrison then came home on a single by Doug Hogan to take a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first it was Font’s turn to struggle. He allowed a leadoff walk to Harold Garcia who then scored on a double by Travis d’Arnaud to make it 2-1. Jim Murphy was the next hitter and flew out to deep left field, but d’Arnaud advanced to third. After a walk to Jeremy Hamilton, Font threw a wild pitch, allowing the run to score, tying the game at two.

Both pitchers then settled down, Font pitched five-innings, allowed two runs and struck out eight. May pitched seven innings and allowed another run in the fourth, to make the total three, while striking out nine. This is the first time May has pitched in the seventh inning all season.

Down 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Anthony Gose reached on an error and stole second base. The steal was his 58^th, putting him just one away from the BlueClaws single-season record. Gose from second went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of d’Arnaud, tying the game at three.

In the tenth inning, after another shutout performance by BJ Rosenberg, Jordan Ellis (2-2) pitched and allowed a run, making it a 4-3 ballgame before the BlueClaws came back to win the ballgame.

The win was the eighth time this season that the BlueClaws have won in their final at-bats while trailing to start the inning.

Closer Matt Nevarez (1-3) took the loss, as he lasted just 1/3 of an inning and allowed two runs. Fabio Castillo allowed the single to Murphy.

The BlueClaws and the Crawdads will continue with game three of the series on Sunday at 5:05 pm. The BlueClaws will send Justin De Fratus (5-3) to the mound and he will be opposed by talented righty Martin Perez (5-5).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – In a pitchers’ duel, the Hickory Crawdads out-dueled the Lakewood BlueClaws and barely held on to an early lead, winning 2-1 on Friday Night.

The Crawdads took the lead just three batters into the game. BlueClaws starter Heitor Correa allowed a lead-off walk to Cody Podraza who was sacrificed to second before Erik Morrison hit a double off the wall in left to score Podraza and take a 1-0 lead.

The Crawdads held their 1-0 lead from the third batter of the game until the top of the eighth when they coaxed a run against Ryan Bergh to take a 2-0 lead.

After a 1 hour and 30 minute delay to start the game, Correa (7-5) started the game for the BlueClaws and worked well. After allowing the run early, Correa went a batter into the seventh, allowing just the one run.

The BlueClaws though, began their comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning as Troy Hanzawa was hit by a pitch and Kyle Lafrenz singled to right. The next batter, Korby Mintken hit an RBI single to left to score Hanzawa and make it a 2-1 game. With runners on first and second and no outs, D’Arby Myers popped a bunt up before Harold Garcia grounded into a double play, ending the threat.

Joe Wieland (3-2) started the game for the Crawdads and went just five innings, but allowed just one hit and one run.

With the loss, the BlueClaws have now lost three in a row for the first time all year. They were the final long-season Minor League Baseball team in the country to do so.

The BlueClaws and Crawdads will continue their four-game series on Saturday at 7:05 pm and the second game is an impressive feature of young arms. The BlueClaws will send Trevor May (2-1) to the mound and he will be opposed by Wilmer Font (6-2).

GREENVILLE, SC – The Lakewood BlueClaws were looking good to take a 3-1 series win against the Greenville Drive, with a 5-1 lead in the sixth inning. However, the Drive made a five-run comeback to earn a series split with the BlueClaws 6-5 on Wednesday night.

The BlueClaws (18-15) got out to as early a lead as possible in a game as Anthony Gose led the game off with a home run, just his second of the year. The power-hitting did not stop there for the BlueClaws who added another run in the first as Harold Garcia doubled, was moved to third and brought home on a single by Jeremy Hamilton.

The Drive (15-17) responded in the second on a big swing of the bat off of BlueClaws starter Jesus Sanchez. Ryan Lavarnway, who homered yesterday, hit his 14^th home run of the season, a solo shot that made it 2-1.

The BlueClaws extended their lead in the fifth inning as TJ Warren hit a ball off the Green Monster in left and Korby Mintken walked to put runners on first and second with no one out. D’Arby Myers then singled in the infield to load the bases. Gose plated Warren with a ground ball out and then Garcia hit a sacrifice fly to bring home the second run of the inning to make it a 4-1 lead.

The BlueClaws added another in the sixth on one swing as Travis d’Arnaud sent a blast off the fourth story of a building past the outfield wall for his second straight game with a home run and 12^th of the season.

Despite being down 5-1 and Sanchez working well, the Drive began their comeback. In the bottom of the inning, Sanchez gets Casey Kelly to fly out before Zach Gentile singled and a double by Lavarnway puts runners in scoring position. On the next batter, Jered Stanley reached on an error by Travis Mattair, scoring both runs and that made it a 5-3 ballgame.

The comeback continued in the seventh off of reliever Jordan Ellis. Ellis did well to work out of the sixth, but in the seventh he allowed a single by Jeremy Hazelbaker who then stole second and third before scoring on a single by Gentile.

Ellis started the eight and was again met rudely by the Drive. He allowed a single and double before being lifted for Jacob Diekman who allowed a single to Will Middlebrooks, bringing in two and taking a 6-5 lead.

Sanchez gets a no-decision, so he won’t win his fifth game in as many starts, but he went 5.1 innings and allowed six hits and three runs. The loss goes to Ellis (1-2) who went 1.2 innings and allowed three runs.    

Caleb Clay also gets a no-decision as he went five innings and allowed four runs, three earned. The win goes to Felix Ventura (2-4), who pitched the final four innings and allowed just the solo home run to d’Arnaud.

The BlueClaws split the series with the Drive and went 5-3 during the eight-game road trip.

The BlueClaws will now make the long drive back from Greenville and will be off on Thursday. On Friday, the BlueClaws will begin a nine-game homestand with four games against the Hickory Crawdads and five against the Lake County Captains. On Friday at 7:00 pm the BlueClaws will send Heitor Correa (7-4) to the mound, and he will be opposed by righty Joe Wieland (2-2).

GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Drive road past the Lakewood BlueClaws for the first time in a three game series by the score of 8-1 on Tuesday afternoon. The BlueClaws are 20-games above .500 overall but fall now to 9-11 on day games this season.

BlueClaws (18-14) starter Freddy Ballestas ran into a lot of trouble early on and it lasted throughout his start. In the bottom of the first, Ballestas allowed three runs, capped off by a two-run single by Jered Stanley and the Drive took a 3-0 lead.

The lead would balloon to seven by the sixth inning as both Ryan Lavarnway and Will Middlebrooks hit home runs off Ballestas and Middlebrooks added another off of Eryk McConnell. In all, Ballestas (1-2) lasted just five innings and allowed seven hits and five earned runs in the loss.

In a 4-0 game, the BlueClaws got their lone run off the bat of Travis Mattair, who batted in Jim Murphy on an RBI-groundout.

The Drive’s (14-17) starter Brock Huntzinger (5-8) broke a five-game losing streak with a win and worked well over five innings of work. Huntzinger allowed just four hits and an unearned run while striking out eight and he did not allow a walk.

With the loss, the BlueClaws are now 5-2 on their road trip and hold a two games to one advantage against the Drive.

The BlueClaws and Drive will conclude their four-game series on Wednesday at 7:00 pm. For the BlueClaws, they will send their best pitcher in the second half, Jesus Sanchez (7-5) to the mound. He will be opposed by righty Caleb Clay (4-4). After this game, the BlueClaws will make the 11-hour trip back to the Jersey Shore to begin a homestand on Friday.  

GREENVILLE, SC – For the second straight game, the Justin De Fratus from the first half of the season emerged from the starting rotation as he put together his second strong performance in a row. The Lakewood BlueClaws got just enough offense on two swings of the bat in a 3-1 victory, their second in a row, against the Greenville Drive on Monday Night.

After a rough re-entry to the starting rotation, where De Fratus (5-3) had been so good last season with the Williamsport Crosscutters, he now has two tremendous outings in a row. Over seven innings, De Fratus scattered four hits and allowed just one run, while striking out five. In his last 14.2, De Fratus has allowed three runs.

The BlueClaws (18-13) got all of their runs in the ballgame with a power surge from the bats of their two best home run hitters. In the game’s second inning, Jim Murphy took the momentary lead with 11 home runs on the season. The blast was a solo shot and he now has a home run in back-to-back games against the Drive.

The other two runs for the BlueClaws came in the next inning, the third, as TJ Warren singled to lead off the inning and advanced to third with two outs for Travis d’Arnaud. The power-hitting catcher sent a ball over the 16-foot wall in center field and into a housing development for two runs and a 3-0 lead. The home run for d’Arnaud was also his 11^th and he moved back into a tie for first on the team in that category.

The Drive (13-17) could muster just one run off of De Fratus, Jordan Ellis, who came in for the eighth and closer BJ Rosenberg worked the ninth.

Rosenberg picked up his 18^th save of the season, pitching on back-to-back days for the second time this season. With a clean ninth, he continued his scoreless innings streak, which stands at 24.1 innings and has lowered his ERA below one.

For the Drive, Starter Stolmy Pimentel (9-5) took the loss as he allowed both home runs and lasted one out into the fifth.

With the win, the BlueClaws are a season-high, five games over .500 in the second half and 21 games over .500 overall.

The BlueClaws will continue their four game series with the Drive on Tuesday at 11:00 am. The BlueClaws are 5-1 on this eight-game road trip. Starting for the BlueClaws will be Freddy Ballestas (1-1) and he will be opposed by Brock Huntzinger (5-8).

GREENVILLE, SC – Continued trends were the story as the Lakewood BlueClaws won game one of a four-game series against the Greenville Drive 5-2 on Sunday night. The BlueClaws continued to get strong outings from Trevor May, BJ Rosenberg continues his scoreless innings streak and the BlueClaws continue to excel on the road.

After a scoreless first three innings, the BlueClaws (17-13) got on the board first in a big way in the fourth inning. Against Fabian Willaimson (6-3), who has been mowing down hitters at an impressive rate all season long, the BlueClaws put together a four-run inning. Travis d’Arnaud led the inning off with a fly out, but then Jim Murphy singled and TJ Warren reached on an error. Travis Mattair was then struck out before the wheels fell off for Williamson. Vladimir De Los Santos hit an RBI-single, scoring Murphy, followed by a single by Troy Hanzawa. Hanzawa plated Warren and both Hanzawa and De Los Santos advanced on a throwing error. A wild pitch scored De Los Santos before a walk to Korby Mintken sent Williamson packing.

The Drive’s (13-16) starter lasted just 3.2 innings allowing four runs, however none of them were earned. Against Jeremy Kehrt, Anthony Gose walked as did D’Arby Myers, walking in a run, before the inning ended.

BlueClaws starter Trevor May (2-1) pitched exceptionally well again and has put together a string of six very good outings. May only lasted five, but allowed just one hit and no runs. He struck out nine and walked three. May lasted long enough to pick up his second win of the season.

In relief of May was Ryan Bergh who struggled in the sixth inning. Bergh allowed a single and a walk before the bases became loaded with no one out on an error by Hanzawa. All told, Bergh allowed two runs and the BlueClaws kept a 4-2 lead.

In the seventh, the BlueClaws got a run back as Jim Murphy got himself back into a two-way tie as the BlueClaws leading home run hitter. His solo blast went over the replica “Green Monster” at Fluor Field, home of the Boston Red Sox affiliate. The home run made it 5-2.

Jacob Diekman worked out of trouble to pitch a clean seventh before the BlueClaws called on their closer BJ Rosenberg in the eighth. Rosenberg worked another two scoreless and for the eighth time, recorded a two-inning save. The save is his 17^th of the season and he continues his scoreless innings streak which now stands at 23.1 innings.

The win places the BlueClaws back at four games above the .500 mark in the second half and 20 games above .500 overall. Both numbers are season highs.

This series is a battle between the two first-half champions in the South Atlantic League. Both teams have secured playoff spots in mid-September.

The BlueClaws and Drive will continue their four-game series and the eight-game road trip on Monday at 7:05 pm. The BlueClaws, who hold the league’s best road record, will send Justin De Fratus to the mound in the game. De Fratus (4-3) had his first truly strong start in his transition back to the rotation and he looks for continued similar results. He will be opposed by Stolmy Pimentel (9-4), formerly a top three pitcher in the league in ERA.

ASHVILLE, NC – The sweep was not to be as the Asheville Tourists potent lineup woke up and scored eight runs on their way to a 9-3 victory against the Lakewood BlueClaws on Saturday night. The loss ends the BlueClaws three game winning streak

The big storylines were the unreliable defense by the BlueClaws and the strong pitching by Tourists (17-11) starter Juan Nicasio. The BlueClaws finished the game with two errors and a misplayed ball on top of that and Nicasio (5-1) went 6.2 innings, allowing just two runs. He did not allow a hit until the fifth inning.

The Tourists put together two big innings against starter Heitor Correa and the BlueClaws (16-13). In the bottom of the first, Scott Robinson led the game off with a single before a stolen base and a ground out move him to third. A walk by Delta Cleary put two runners on and a sacrifice fly brought Robinson home. Cleary then scored as outfielders Anthony Gose and D’Arby Myers let a ball fall between them and it was suddenly 2-0.

The Tourists added four runs off Correa (7-4) in the third as Robinson again led things off with a hit, this time a double. Cleary singled and Robinson then scored as Jim Murphy made an error. A walk and two more singles were surrendered by Correa who allowed the lead to balloon to 6-0. The Tourists had not led all series but, now were in complete control with Nicasio on the mound.

Correa made it through six innings but took the loss. He allowed nine hits and six runs; however, only three were earned.

The BlueClaws struck in the fourth as Gose walked, reached second on a wild pitch, went to third on a groundball and scored on a wild pitch and then made the game a bit closer in the top of the seventh. In the seventh, Jim Murphy walked and Travis Mattair doubled, the BlueClaws then scored on an RBI-groundout and a single by Kyle Lafrenz to make it 6-3 but the Tourists struck back in the bottom of the inning.

Rob Roth came on in the bottom of the seventh and allowed two runs to erase what the BlueClaws had done in their previous at-bats and keep the advantage at five runs. Jared Simon worked the ninth and allowed a run as well.

Travis d’Arnaud did not get a hit and ended his 15-game hitting streak.

The BlueClaws won the series with the Tourists three games to one and will travel a short distance to Greenville for a four-game series with the Drive (Red Sox). The series will begin on Sunday at 7:00 pm as the BlueClaws will send Trevor May (1-1), who has been pitching very well of late, to the mound and he will be opposed by Fabian Washington (6-2).

ASHEVILLE, NC – Starting pitcher Jesus Sanchez has been the best pitcher for the Lakewood BlueClaws in the second half this season, and he proved it once again with his part in an 8-1 trashing of the Asheville Tourists on Friday Night.

One of the biggest surprises of the season has been the starting pitching of Sanchez (7-5) who played for the BlueClaws (16-12) in 2008 as a catcher. He has made an amazing transition so far to starting pitcher and his outing on Friday was another big step in the right direction. Sanchez worked seven innings and did not yield an earned run. He allowed just four hits, one walk and struck out eight batters. His ERA is now 3.51, the lowest it has been all season.

The BlueClaws scored early and often as they belted out 13 hits on the night. In the game’s first inning, Harold Garcia singled to lead off the game before stealing his 31^st base of the season and opening the scoring as Travis d’Arnaud doubled to right field.

The BlueClaws added to their lead in the second, as Troy Hanzawa singled and scored the second run of the game on a triple off the bat of D’Arby Myers.

The BlueClaws biggest inning came in the fourth as they tallied three runs and took a 5-0 lead. Travis Mattair led the inning off with a double then a Hanzawa singled moved Mattair to third. The newest BlueClaw catcher Kyle Lafrenz hit a sacrifice fly before a double by Myers. Gose singled in Myers for the third run of the inning and also stole two bases. Gose, with 56 stolen bases is just three from tying the BlueClaws single-season record.

The Tourists (16-11) scored their lone run of the night in the fifth, unearned after a leadoff double and an error by Mattair but the BlueClaws did not let that faze them. The BlueClaws then added three more runs, one in the sixth and two in the seventh enroute to their comfortable victory.

Parker Frazier (7-7) started the game for the Tourists and struggled. He went two outs into the sixth, but allowed 12 hits and six runs, all earned, in his seventh loss of the season.

Eryk McConnell, who is from North Carolina, pitched the eighth inning for the BlueClaws and did not allow a run. Jordan Ellis pitched the ninth with similar results.

For the BlueClaws Myers had another three-hit game and is 10 for his last 16. Mattair had two doubles on the day.

The win puts the BlueClaws at four games above .500 in the second half and 20 games above .500 on the season, both season highs.

The BlueClaws will look for the rare four-game sweep on Saturday in their final game of the season against the Tourists. The BlueClaws will look to Heitor Correa (7-3) to get the sweep and the Tourists will counter with Juan Nicasio (4-1).

ASHEVILLE, NC – The best road team in the South Atlantic League proved themselves again on Thursday as the Lakewood BlueClaws defeated the Asheville Tourists 6-4. The BlueClaws are now 27-16 on the road.

For the second straight day the BlueClaws (15-12) took a big lead early and for the second straight day the BlueClaws hit a home run in the inning to help them to their lead. In the second inning the newest BlueClaw TJ Warren was hit by a pitch and Travis Mattair walked before Troy Hanzawa came to the plate. More know for his defensive prowess, Hanzawa hit his second home run of the season, a three-run shot and the BlueClaws took a 3-0 lead.

They added to their lead in the fifth as Travis d’Arnaud doubled and then scored as Warren reached on a fielding error by the Tourists third baseman. With the run the BlueClaws led 4-0.

The Tourists got on the board with their first run making it 4-1 but in the top of the sixth, D’Arby Myers reached on an infield single, stole second and scored on a single by Anthony Gose.

With a 5-1 lead, the BlueClaws couldn’t get comfortable because the Tourists (16-10) would make their comeback in both the bottom of the sixth and the seventh. In the sixth, Jordan Pacheco singled to lead things off before singles by Kiel Roling, Ryan Peisel, Joe Massey and Beau Seabury. The barrage of singles led to two runs and a 5-3 ballgame.

Freddy Ballestas (1-1) started for the BlueClaws and was taken out with two outs in the sixth. He allowed three runs on eight hits and one strikeout. He left with the lead and Ryan Bergh came in to finish the inning and pitch the seventh.

In the seventh, Roling hit a solo home run, his tenth, to make it a slim 5-4 advantage. Bergh then ran into trouble and loaded the bases before Rob Roth came in and got the final out of the inning.

In the eighth, BJ Rosenberg came on for another two out save and as he has done all season long, Rosenberg preserved the lead and picked up his 16^th save. Rosenberg has now gone 21.1 consecutive innings without allowing a run dating back to May 31^st.

Jonnathan Aristil (1-5) picked up the loss as he went 5.1 innings allowing eight hits and five runs, four earned.

The BlueClaws added a run of insurance in the top of the ninth on a base hit, bunt and two wild pitches as Myers came in to score.

With the win, the BlueClaws go to three games over .500 for the first time in the second half and 19 games over .500 overall. They had previously failed in their first six attempts at that mark.

The BlueClaws and Tourists will play game three of their four-game series on Friday at 7:05 pm. The BlueClaws will send Jesus Sanchez (6-5) to the mound, Sanchez has been an outstanding surprise this season with the BlueClaws. The Tourists will look to Parker Fraizer (7-6).

ASHEVILLE, NC – The Lakewood BlueClaws continue to win games on the road, this time they did it behind a strong performance by starter Justin De Fratus who picked up the win in a 6-2 victory against the Asheville Tourists. The BlueClaws have the best road record in the South Atlantic League.

In his fifth start, after 24 first-hale appearances in the bullpen, De Fratus (4-3) was spectacular. He went 7.2 innings allowing one earned run while striking out seven. De Fratus worked quickly and had a span of 12 straight Tourists (16-9) hitters set down and a four-pitch seventh inning.

The game started slowly for both teams but the BlueClaws (14-12) busted out in the third inning. In the inning D’Arby Myers beat out an infield single before Harold Garcia doubled Myers home to take a 1-0 lead. Anthony Gose then singled home Garcia and was on second for Travis d’Arnaud. With a runner on, d’Arnaud took over as the BlueClaws leader in home runs with his tenth blast of the year, capping a four-run inning.

In the next inning, the BlueClaws scored another run as the BlueClaws used back-to-back-to-back singles by Travis Mattair, Troy Hanzawa and Vladimir De Los Santos to scored and make it 5-0.

The BlueClaws added another run in the seventh as Myers reached on an error and stole second base before Garcia singled him to third. Myers then was brought home on an RBI-groundout by Gose to take a 6-0 lead.

The Tourists got to a tiring De Fratus as they scored two runs in the inning, only one of which was earned. De Fratus was relieved by Jacob Diekman who coaxed the final out of the inning with the tying run at the plate. Diekman also pitched the ninth and earned his first save as a professional.

Ethan Hollingsworth (5-6) took the loss as he allowed five runs over five innings and allowed eight hits.

The BlueClaws and Tourists will play game two of their four-game series on Thursday night at 7:05 pm. For the BlueClaws, Freddy Ballestas (0-1) will stay in the starting rotation and begin the game. He will be opposed by Jonnathan Aristill (1-5)

Update on Jason Knapp

BlueClaws RHP Jason Knapp made 70 throws from flat ground today from 60-feet and reported no pain.

"It was fine, no issues at all," said Knapp.

BlueClaws manager Dusty Wathan said that Knapp will move back to 90-feet tomorrow. He is tentatively scheduled to throw off a mound early next week.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Both the Lakewood BlueClaws and the Lexington Legends battled deep into the night on Monday, but it was the Legends who got three runs in the eleventh inning for a 5-2 win.

In another back-and-forth game, the BlueClaws (13-12) took the lead early on in the first inning as Travis d’Arnaud hit a ball deep to center which was misplayed for a double and he was singled home by Jim Murphy.

Much like the game played on Sunday, the Legends (11-13) fired back with a run of their own and it was another leadoff walk that helped plate the run. Brian Pellegrini walked before a single by Eric Suttle and a sacrifice bunt moved the runners. Starter Trevor May then threw a wild pitch, scoring Pellegrini and tying the game at one.

The BlueClaws took the lead again in the third as they scored a run solely created by the speed of Anthony Gose. Gose earned a walk to lead off the game and stole second. On the next pitch, he stole third, the ball went into left field on the throw and Gose waltzed home for a 2-1 lead.

The Legends then came right back in the fifth with another run off May, who performed very well again in his seventh start of the season. May has now had five straight strong starts as he went six full on Monday, allowing two hits, two runs while striking out seven. His counterpart, starter Brad Dydaleewicz was also very effective as he settled down after the third and lasted 7.1, allowing two runs, and struck out seven. Despite the strong outings, neither starter factored into the decision.

In the 11^th inning, Pellegrini singled up the middle to lead the inning off before a mishandled bunt turned into first and second with no one out. A successful sacrifice put runners on second and third before an intentional walk set up a situation with the bases loaded and one out for a pinch-hitter Michael Diaz. Against reliever Eryk McConnell (0-1), Diaz singled to the right side, plating two and taking a 4-2 lead.

Patrick Urckfitz (4-0) pitched out of the tenth and stayed in for the eleventh to pick up the win.

The loss is the sixth straight for the BlueClaws in an attempt to go to 19 games above .500 for the first time this season. The BlueClaws and Legends split the series two games each, and the BlueClaws have done that now in four straight series.

The BlueClaws will enjoy an off day on Tuesday before traveling to Asheville to face the Tourists. On Wednesday at 7:05 pm the BlueClaws will open their four-game series with Justin De Fratus (3-3) on the mound and he will be opposed by righty Ethan Hollingsworth (5-5)

LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Lakewood BlueClaws put together a four-run inning, but held on after the Lexington Legends also had a fourth run inning in a 6-5 ballgame on Sunday night. The BlueClaws are back to two-games over .500 on the second half.

In a back-and-forth game, the BlueClaws (13-11) struck first with a run in the first as Anthony Gose walked and scored on a single by the hot-hitting Travis d’Arnaud to take a 1-0 lead. However, the Legends (10-13) scored in the top of the second to tie the game at one.

The BlueClaws then took a big advantage after a run in the fourth and a big four-run fifth inning. In the fifth inning, Harold Garcia led off with a walk before back-to-back-to-back singles by d’Arnaud, Jim Murphy and Jeremy Hamilton, combined with two singles by Troy Hanzawa and D’Arby Myers put four across the plate and it’s a 6-1 lead for the BlueClaws.

At the time, starter Heitor Correa (7-3) had been going along quite easily but ran into some big trouble in the sixth. Correa allowed a single to Albert Cartwright, and allowed Eric Suttle, Andy Simunic, Steve Brown and Jorge De Leon all to reach before being lifted for Ryan Bergh. Bergh then struck out pinch-hitter Brian Pelligrini before Jay Austin reached on an error, scoring two, and allowing the fourth run of the inning to score and make it a 6-5 game.

Bergh pitched well and got the BlueClaws to the ninth for BJ Rosenberg. Rosenberg has not allowed a run since May 31^st, a total of 19.1 innings and he kept that trend alive with a seven-pitch save. The starter Correa gets the win, going 5.1 and allowing five runs, three earned in the game.

The Legends starter Jordan Lyles (5-8) took the loss and struggled to find the zone, walking six in four innings and allowing five runs to score.

The win for the BlueClaws is their second in a row and with a win in tomorrow’s game, they will complete an above-.500 homestand.

The BlueClaws will complete their eight-game homestand and four-game series with the Lexington Legends on Monday at 7:05 pm. The BlueClaws will look to Trevor May (1-1), who has been very good in his last four starts and the Legends will try and get the split with lefty Brad Dydalewicz (5-4).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Lakewood BlueClaws are simply unbeatable when they are working off two losses. That proved to be true in an 8-2 win against the Lexington Legends on Saturday night, behind a fine effort from starter Jesus Sanchez.

The BlueClaws (12-11) and Sanchez (6-5) started slow as he allowed single runs in both the second and third innings to trail early on 2-0. However, Sanchez settled down very nicely in the fourth and beyond as he went 7.1 innings and allowed just the two runs and four hits while striking out four. He left in the eighth and did a tremendous job for the BlueClaws who needed a lengthy outing from their starter.

Down by two, the BlueClaws then put on a hitting barrage. In the fourth, Jim Murphy reached as he was hit by a pitch before Jeremy Hamilton hit a triple to center, scoring a run and getting himself in good position to score. Hamilton did on a single by Troy Hanzawa and then D’Arby Myers hit an RBI-groundout to plate Zach Collier who walked. That three-run inning for the BlueClaws was followed by another three-run inning in the fifth.

In the fifth, Harold Garcia singled to start the inning before a double by Travis d’Arnaud made it second and third. Hamilton then hit a two-run single and advanced on an error before scoring on a sacrifice fly to make it 6-2.

The BlueClaws in the sixth scored two more and they did so with a Myers single to start the inning, a single by Anthony Gose and a sacrifice fly by Garcia made it 7-2. Murphy broke out of a 0-for-7 slump with a double to bring home d’Arnaud who singled to make it 8-2.

Legends starter Kyle Greenwalt (7-9) went five innings and allowed six runs, five earned in that span. He takes the loss and picks up his 16^th decision in just 18 starts.

Sanchez gave way to Eryk McConnell, a BlueClaw last year for 21 innings, and he finished off the eighth inning before BJ Rosenberg worked a clean ninth.

The BlueClaws banged out 12 hits on the night and it was another multi-hit night for both Garcia and d’Arnaud. Hamilton now has extra-base hits and RBI in three straight games.

With the win, the BlueClaws continue their dominance with a two-game losing streak. The BlueClaws are now 9-0 while working off of two straight losses and are the only long-season Minor League Baseball team to never lose three straight.

The BlueClaws have tied the series up at a game apiece and look to take the series lead on Sunday at 5:05 pm. In that ballgame, the BlueClaws will look to Heitor Correa (6-3) and the Legends will counter with Jordan Lyles (5-7), who is second in the league in strikeouts.  

LAKEWOOD, NJ – A day after the Lakewood BlueClaws narrowly fail to comeback from ten runs, the BlueClaws can’t pull back half as many runs in an 8-4 loss on Friday night to the Lexington Legends in game one of a four game series.

The BlueClaws (11-11) spot starter Freddy Ballestas struggled in his first two innings and only lasted three. In the first, Jay Austin led the game off with a smash double off the wall in right field. He scored as Ebert Rosario singled and Albert Cartwright brought Rosario home on a single making it 2-0.

The Legends (10-11) also added two runs in the second as the bases were loaded for Michael Diaz and he doubled down the line in left field to bring two runners home and take a 4-1 lead.

The BlueClaws first run came in the bottom of the first as Harold Garcia and Travis d’Arnaud both singled and Jeremy Hamilton scored Garcia with an RBI-groundout. Down 4-1, the BlueClaws scored two in the forth as Hamilton reached on an error and Travis Mattair hit an RBI-triple to left. Mattair was singled home by Troy Hanzawa and it became a 4-3 ballgame.

The BlueClaws and Jacob Diekman held the Legends off the scoreboard for three innings until Jared Simon entered in the seventh and the lead widened.

Simon started the inning with a strikeout to Brian Pellegrini, however, he hit Rosario and allowed a walk to Albert Cartwright. Simon then allowed a base hit RBI to Chris Jackson, before a sacrifice fly plated another. The bases then got loaded for Jay Austin, and he did some damage, stroking a single to left, scoring two and giving the Legends an 8-3 lead.

The BlueClaws got a run back in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run by Hamilton, his second in as many games and that made it an 8-4 lead for the Legends.

Ross Seaton (7-8) started the game and went 5.2 innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out four. Henry Villar worked the Legends out of bases loaded in the sixth and finished the ballgame allowing just the home run. He struck out eight.

Ballestas (0-1) gets the loss, he went just three innings and allowed four runs, two earned.

This is the first game of the season for the BlueClaws against the Legends and the only series these teams will meet this year. The BlueClaws have now lost two games in a row for the ninth time this season. The BlueClaws are the only team in long-season minor league baseball to not have a losing streak of three or more games.

The second game of the four-game series will be on Saturday at 7:05 pm. The BlueClaws will start Jesus Sanchez (5-5) who has been very impressive of late and he will be opposed by righty Kyle Greenwalt (7-8).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Despite nine straight runs for the Lakewood BlueClaws, their attempt to reverse a ten-run deficit came up just short. The Bowling Green Hot Rods held on 14-11 in an offensive explosion at FirstEnergy Park on Thursday night.

The BlueClaws (11-10) got the game’s first run in the first as Anthony Gose reached on an error and stole his fiftieth bag of the season to get in scoring position for Harold Garcia. Garcia singled and it was 1-0 BlueClaws.

The lead was short-lived however, as the Bowling Green Hot Rods (13-7) began their barrage against starter Justin De Fratus (3-3). In the second, the Hot Rods got a single from Kyeong Kang and a double by Isaias Velasquez before an RBI-single from Mike Sheridan. De Fratus then got two outs, a pop up and a sacrifice fly before three straight hits, a single, a three-run triple by Anthony Scelfo and a single by Tim Beckham plated the fifth run of the inning. However, the runs did not stop there.

In the third, off of De Fratus, the Hot Rods added four runs on two big swings. Kang hit a solo home run and Jason Corder hit a three-run home run for a four-run inning and a 9-1 lead.

That would be it for De Fratus, in total, he went four innings and allowed nine runs, all earned on nine hits.

The lead was extended to a game-high ten as the BlueClaws plated a run in the fourth, but the Hot Rods added a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to make it 12-2. Then the BlueClaws bats woke up in a big way.

In the bottom of the seventh, Gose led the inning off getting hit by a pitch thrown by relief pitcher Michael Jarman. Harold Garcia then walked before Travis d’Arnaud hit an RBI-single. Jim Murphy then struck out before a walk to Hamilton loaded the bases and with two outs Zach Collier stepped to the plate. Collier hit his second extra base hit of the season, a bases-clearing triple down the line in right to make it 12-6. Then, Vladimir De Los Santos sent a deep fly ball to left-center, outfielders Kang and Scelfo collided and in doing so, allowed De Los Santos to round the bases for an inside-the-park home run and a six-run inning. At this point, the score was 12-8.

In the eighth, with two runners on, Jeremy Hamilton hit his third home run of the season, making it a 12-11 ballgame. The BlueClaws had scored nine runs in a row.

In the ninth, off of Ryan Bergh, Isaias Velasquez singled and Mike Sheridan hit a deflating two-run home run to make it 14-11 ending the BlueClaws chances at a miracle comeback.

Joseph Cruz (4-4) got the win for the Hot Rods, he went six strong innings and allowed one earned run.

Both teams combined for 31 hits and 25 runs. For Lakewood, d’Arnaud went 4-for-5 and Garcia had three hits. The BlueClaws are now 0-6 in attempts to go to 19 games above .500 on the season.

This was the final game of the season and, unless the BlueClaws meet the Hot Rods in the SAL Championship, the final game ever between these two teams. The Hot Rods will be going to the Midwest League next season.

The BlueClaws will open a four-game series on Friday night at 7:05 pm against the Lexington Legends at FirstEnergy Park. The BlueClaws will look to Freddy Ballestas (0-0) in a spot start and the Legends will counter with righty Ross Seaton (6-8).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Anthony Gose capped off a three-run ninth inning for the Lakewood BlueClaws with an RBI-single to right, scoring Travis Mattair in a 4-3 come-from-behind victory against the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Wednesday.

The single by Gose came after closer Marquis Felming lost the strike zone and allowed back-to-back walks, one of which tied the game to Troy Hanzawa. In the final inning, the BlueClaws (11-9) had four hits and the bases were loaded with two outs before the single by Gose.

The Hot Rods (12-7) got out to a 3-0 off of BlueClaws starter Trevor May and it could have been far worse than that as in the fifth, May left the game with the bases loaded and no out. At that time, Dusty Wathan called on Jordan Ellis from the pen and all Ellis allowed was a sacrifice fly and one of those runners to score. Ellis went on to pitch three perfect innings, striking out two. May went five and allowed three runs, two earned.

The BlueClaws trailed 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth, they had just one hit as Harold Garcia stepped up to the plate. He added the second hit of the day, a solo home run to right and a 3-1 score on their second hit.

Off the BlueClaws bullpen, the Hot Rods could do nothing. BJ Rosenberg came on in the ninth and threw another scoreless inning, earning his seventh win of the season, the second highest mark on the team.

Chris Andujar was called on to make a spot start and he filled in nicely, going five innings and not yielding a run. The late-game damage was done off the closer Fleming (1-4) who pitched 1.2 innings and allowed the final three runs of the game.

This was the seventh time this season the BlueClaws went on to win a game while trailing going into their last at-bat, by far the best mark in the league.

The BlueClaws and Hot Rods will finish up their four-game series on Thursday at 7:05. This will be the final game between these two teams in their respective histories as the Hot Rods will be moving to the Midwest League. The BlueClaws will look to Justin De Fratus (3-2) in his fourth start of the season and he will be opposed by Joseph Cruz (3-4).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Bowling Green Hot Rods got out to a 3-0 lead before the Lakewood BlueClaws tied things up, however, the Hot Rods pulled away in a 7-4 win on Tuesday night.

The Hot Rods (12-6) got out to a three run advantage early in the ballgame off of starter Heitor Correa in the early-going. To begin the ballgame, Correa loaded the bases without the benefit of a hit as he allowed a pair of walks and a hit by pitch. The first hit of the ballgame came off the bat the fourth hitter Isaias Velasquez as he hit a double to the left side, scoring two. The Hot Rods added a run in the third and took a 3-0 advantage to the bottom of that inning.

At that point, the BlueClaws (10-9) began a mini-comeback with a three run inning and the damage was all done with two outs and no one on base. Harold Garcia started the hitting with a single, followed by a single by Anthony Gose. Then, the BlueClaws used back-to-back doubles by Travis d’Arnaud and Jim Murphy to get three runs in and tie the ballgame at three.

After tying the game, the teams went scoreless in the fourth before the Hot Rods had a big fifth inning. With a runner on, Mike Sheridan sent a majestic fly deep over the wall in right field for a two-run home run. Correa then worked two outs before allowing a double and being lifted in favor of Freddy Ballestas. Ballestas allowed the runner to score and the Hot Rods took a 6-3 lead.

Off of Ballestas, the Hot Rods got another run in the sixth and at 7-3 a triple by Anthony Gose with a runner on made it 7-4.

Correa (6-3) ended the game with his third loss of the season, he went 4.2 innings and allowed six hits and six runs while walking five. Ballestas then worked 1.1 innings and allowed a run before Jacob Diekman pitched two scoreless innings. Jared Simon was in a familiar situation working the ninth

Matt Moore (6-3) got the win as he worked five innings and allowed three runs. Moore struck out eight batters and walked just one.

The BlueClaws have failed in their fifth straight attempt to reach 19 games above the .500 mark.

The four-game series will continue on Wednesday in an 11:05 am game with the Hot Rods. The BlueClaws will look to regain the lead in the series behind the right arm of Trevor May (1-1) and he will be opposed by Shane Dwyer (1-7).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Back in Lakewood, NJ the Lakewood BlueClaws play the way that won them the first half championship to start an eight game homestand with a 9-4 victory against the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Monday night.

The BlueClaws (10-8) got on the board first, a feat they have achieved 45 times this season, and they did so as Troy Hanzawa doubled and was brought home on a single by Harold Garcia.

However, the Hot Rods (11-6) then came over-top of the BlueClaws with a two-run fifth as both Justin Reynolds and Jason Tweedy scored. Reynods on an RBI-groundout and Tweedy on an RBI-single off the bat of former first pick overall in the 2008 draft Tim Beckham to take a 2-1 lead.

Then the BlueClaws took over. In the fifth, Travis Mattair led the inning off with a single before Zach Collier hit a double, putting runners on second and third with no one out. Hanzawa collected his second of three hits on the day with an RBI-single and D’Arby Myers plated another with an RBI-groundout to take a 3-2 lead.

The BlueClaws then blew the game open in the sixth. Travis d’Arnaud started the inning with a double before Jim Murphy was hit by a pitch and Brendan Akashian walked. Mattair then battled to hit a sacrifice fly to center to plate a run and make it 4-2. Then, Collier hit a ball up the middle that looked like it was a double-play ball but it was booted by Beckham and everyone was safe, scoring another run. Hanzawa then hit a double to right, scoring another run before Garcia was hit by a pitch. The ninth batter of the inning was Anthony Gose, and he hit a ball that was fielded by Beckham and thrown wildly to first, scoring two more runs and the BlueClaws ended their inning scoring five on just two hits to take an 8-2 lead.

Lakewood added a run in the eighth as Myers doubled, advanced to third on a ground ball and scored on an infield single by Gose.

Jesus Sanchez (5-5) started the game and continued to be effective as he went six strong innings, allowing eight hits but just two runs. Sanchez struck out six and was also aided by a wonderful relay from Myers to Hanzawa to d’Arnaud in the sixth to nail a runner at the plate. Ryan Bergh came on in the seventh and worked two easy innings striking out two before Rob Roth entered in the ninth. Roth walked the first and second hitters of the inning and two scored as Anthony Scelfo hit a double before retiring the side.

Nick Barnese (4-1), who hadn’t allowed more than two runs in an outing all season got roughed up in 5.1 innings. He started well but Barnese ran into big trouble in the sixth. All told, he allowed eight hits and eight runs, five earned in the loss.

On the day, Hanzawa went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs. The bottom three hitters in the BlueClaws order accounted for five runs and four RBIs on the day.

This was the first ever meeting between the BlueClaws and Hot Rods in respective team’s histories.

The four-game series will continue on Tuesday at 7:05 pm as the BlueClaws and Hot Rods play in FirstEnergy Park. The BlueClaws will call Heitor Correa (6-2) to the mound and he will be opposed by highly-touted lefty Matthew Moore (5-3).

KANNAPOLIS, NC – Instead of the bullpen allowing runs, Lakewood BlueClaws starter Jason Knapp allowed six in the first en route to a 9-4 loss to the Kannapolis Intimidators. The BlueClaws battled to make it close, but the Intimidators pulled away late.

Things got off to an ugly start for Knapp (2-7) and the BlueClaws (9-8) as the Intimidators (10-6) jumped all over the opposing starting pitcher. Justin Greene started the game off with a walk before Drew Garcia singled and Luis Sierra doubled home two. Daniel Black walked and then with two outs, Knapp issued another walk to Kenny Williams, loading the bases. The next batter Brandon Short hit a three-run double, and that was it for Knapp. This was Knapp’s shortest outing, going just 2/3 innings. Jordan Ellis came on and allowed a single to Eduardo Escobar, scoring the sixth run of the inning before it ended.

Down six, Ellis stayed in the game and allowed another run in the fourth before the BlueClaws tried to mount a comeback.

In the sixth, the BlueClaws took a chunk out of the Intimidator’s advantage as Harold Garcia and Korby Mintken both singled before Travis d’Arnaud hit an RBI- double. The BlueClaws added their second run as Jim Murphy grounded out, but a run scored.

The next inning, the BlueClaws got two more runs, but were unlucky not to make the game closer than that. In the inning, Harold Garcia, with a runner on, hit his sixth home run of the season, making it a 7-4 game. The BlueClaws had runners at the corners with one out, but Murphy lined into a double play.

In the bottom of the inning, off Freddy Ballestas, the Intimidators opened their lead up to four runs and in the next inning, the Intimidators added another run to make it 9-4.

Knapp took the loss as he allowed six runs, all earned, on three hits and three walks. Ellis went 4.1 innings and allowed just one run.

Stephen Sauer (5-3) started and went six strong innings and allowed just two runs on six hits while striking out five. He has started three times against the BlueClaws and the Intimidators have won all three games.

The BlueClaws finish the eight-game road trip at 4-4. They split both the series with West Virginia and Kannapolis. Also, in the game, Jeremy Hamilton had his league-long on-base streak ended at 32 games.

The BlueClaws will enjoy their first off day of the second half before coming back to FirstEnergy Park for an eight game series against two teams from the Southern Division. This will be the first time all season that the BlueClaws will face the Southern Division. The first four-game series will begin on Monday at 7:05 and Jesus Sanchez (4-3) will oppose Nick Barnese (4-1) of the Bowling Green Hot Rods. The BlueClaws will play the Lexington Legends beginning on Friday.

KANNAPOLIS, NC – For the third straight game in the series the Kannapolis Intimidators score against the Lakewood BlueClaws bullpen, but for the second time in the series, the BlueClaws hold on for a 7-5 victory.

For the first time in four days, the BlueClaws (9-7) do not score first as the Intimidators take an early 1-0 run as they had two doubles off of starter Justin De Fratus in the first.

The BlueClaws then battled back in the third as Harold Garcia reached on an infield single and was on second base for Travis d’Arnaud. With one swing, d’Arnaud tied Jim Murphy for the team lead in home runs as he sent a majestic blast to left field to give the BlueClaws a 2-1 lead.

The BlueClaws added to their lead in the fourth as Travis Mattair walked and stole second, which was important because Troy Hanzawa then hit a ground-rule double, scoring Mattair for a 3-1 lead.

The Intimidators (9-6) got a second run, but the BlueClaws would add three more in the fifth. In that inning, Garcia singled before Korby Mintken walked to put two on with no one out. The next batter d’Arnaud walked to load the bases for Murphy who would unload them with one swing. Murphy hit a deep fly ball to right, scoring everyone on base and giving the BlueClaws a 6-2 lead.

However, for the third straight game, the Intimidators would mount a comeback. This time in the sixth inning instead of the seventh, the Intimidators got a runner on  reaching on an error, before Brandon Short singled to put two men on with one out. De Fratus exited the game in favor of Jacob Diekman, but the hits kept coming. Eduardo Escobar singled to bring in a run before Justin Greene walked to load the bases. After an RBI ground out, Luis Sierra singled Escobar home for the third run of the inning and it made the game much closer at 6-5.

In the ninth, the BlueClaws got some insurance as they got two runners on before Jeremy Hamilton doubled to make it 7-5.

In his third start of the season, De Fratus (3-2) would fare much better. He ended up going an out into the fifth allowing just two earned runs. He picked up his third win of the season. Rob Roth pitched a clean inning in the seventh before BJ Rosenberg provided another six out save, his team leading 14^th.

Jimmy Ballinger (0-2), in his second start for the Intimidators this season, only lasted four innings as he allowed six runs, all earned. He only allowed four hits, but walked three in the loss. Ballinger left with the bases loaded in the fifth and Charlis Burdie allowed the three-run double to Murphy.

The BlueClaws are back to 18 games above .500, the best mark of the season. In the game, Hamilton went 1-for-5 and doubled in his final at-bat to extend his league-long on-base streak to 32 games.

The BlueClaws and Intimidators will wrap up their four game series on Saturday at 7:05 pm. The game will be the conclusion of an eight-game road trip, in which the BlueClaws look to end above .500. The BlueClaws will send their ace Jason Knapp (2-6) to the mound and he will be opposed by righty Stephen Sauer (4-3).

KANNAPOLIS, NC – Behind a comeback performance and 14 strikeouts by their starter, the Kannapolis Intimidators are able to complete the comeback this time with two runs in the ninth to defeat the Lakewood BlueClaws 5-4.

The BlueClaws (8-7) tallied first and they did so with two runs in the third inning. In that inning, Troy Hanzawa singled with one out before back-to-back doubles by Vladimir De Los Santos and Harold Garcia plated two runs for the early 2-0 lead.

The Intimidators (9-5) got on the board in the fourth as Josh Phegley, a first-round draft pick in this year’s draft, hit a solo home run, the first of his career. It was only a solo home run because Hanzawa turned a terrific double play the batter before.

The BlueClaws extended their lead in the sixth as Travis d’Arnaud doubled with one out, before Jim Murphy walked. Jeremy Hamilton then extended his on-base streak to 31 games with a single and that loaded the bases for Zach Collier. Collier hit a single, two scored and the advantage was now 4-1.

In the bottom of the seventh, for the second straight day, the Intimidators began to mount their comeback. Against Ryan Bergh, who came in for Trevor May, Brandon Short singled to lead off the inning and was brought home on a Drew Garcia double. Garcia then scored as Luis Sierra singled him home to make it a 4-3 ballgame. However, the comeback was one run short and the inning ended with the BlueClaws ahead.

Despite allowing four runs, Dexter Carter was outstanding for the Intimidators. He allowed seven hits and one walk but struck out 14 BlueClaws. In two starts he has 25 strikeouts against Lakewood. His effort was matched by May who went six innings for the third straight time and allowed one run while scattering six walks.  

Jared Simon (1-1) came on in the eight and could not add to his all-time lead in saves. Simon worked an easy eighth but walked the leadoff man in the ninth. Then on a bunt that was popped up, Simon caught the ball and threw the ball over the head of Hamilton, advancing the runner to second base. On the next play, Drew Garcia hit a single up the middle, scoring a run and Harold Garcia booted the ball into the outfield, allowing Drew Garcia to get to second. After a strikeout, Luis Sierra hit a game-winning single; a 5-4 win for the Intimidators.

Dan Remenowsky (4-3), who worked the top of the ninth inning, struck out the side and picked up the win.

The BlueClaws and Intimidators will continue their four game series on Friday at 7:05 pm as Justin De Fratus (2-2) will get his third chance as a starter for the BlueClaws. He struggled in his first two outings, going three innings in each. He will be opposed by righty Jimmy Ballinger (0-1).

KANNAPOLIS, NC – From blowout win to stunning defeat, in the end it was a character win for the BlueClaws who let a 6-0 lead evaporate before holding on to win 9-6 against the Kannapolis Intimidators in game one of their four-game series.

The BlueClaws (8-6) got on the board in the second inning for the second straight night as Jim Murphy walked to lead off the inning and advanced to third before a sacrifice fly from Zach Collier made it 1-0.

The lead extended in the sixth as Murphy singled with one out and Brendan Akashian got hit by a pitch. Travis Mattair then hit a two-run double and then scored on a single by Troy Hanzawa. The three runs made it a pretty comfortable 4-0 lead.

If the BlueClaws did not feel comfortable with a 4-0, they surely would with a 6-0 lead. That was the advantage after a seventh inning two-run home run by Murphy. Murphy went 2–for-2 with three runs scored and two RBIs. He also walked three times and the home run is his team-leading ninth.

Despite feeling comfortable and their starter Heitor Correa pitching a shutout through six, the Intimidators (8-5) began to mount their comeback. In the bottom of the seventh the Intimidators bats belted out five extra base hits, a single and benefitted from an error. In the inning Correa was relieved by Freddy Ballestas, who had been very successful since coming to Lakewood from Williamsport. In all, the BlueClaws saw their six-run lead disappear on the final extra base hit, a triple off the bat of Daniel Black. Feeling comfortable with a six-run lead going into the inning, the game was now tied.

Correa ended up going six innings, allowing seven hits and four runs, he was throwing a shutout before he came out to start the seventh. Ballestas allowed three hits and two runs before the BlueClaws summoned BJ Rosenberg from the bullpen.

The BlueClaws closer entered the game on the same day he was named the Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Week and worked out of trouble in the eighth

Nevin Griffith started for the Intimidators and went a strong five innings, allowing three hits and one run. It was Garrett Johnson who allowed the runs, five of them, three earned in his two innings of work.

In the ninth, Korby Mintken led off with a walk before Anthony Gose sacrificed him to second and reached on an error. Mintken advanced to third on a fly ball to the outfield off the bat of Travis d’Arnaud. Murphy then walked to load the bases for Akashian. Akashian also walked, plating a run to take a 7-6 lead. After allowing the three walks, Leroy Hunt (2-2) was relieved by Tyson Corley who got Mattair to strike out, before Collier hit a two-run single to give the BlueClaws a 9-6 lead.

Rosenberg (6-2) finished off the game with an easy ninth to pick up his sixth win of the season.

The BlueClaws won their 50^th game of the season and have reached 18 games above .500 for the first time in their fifth try.

The BlueClaws will continue their four-game series with the Intimidators on Thursday at 7:05 looking to make this a positive road swing. Trevor May (1-1), coming off back-to-back strong six-inning efforts, will start for the BlueClaws and he will be opposed by the ace of the Intimidators staff Dexter Carter (4-2).

CHARLESTON, WV – The last two times Jesus Sanchez has started the games ended early due to rain, on Tuesday, the outcome was also clear early, but this time because of the Lakewood BlueClaws bats. The BlueClaws earned a split of the four-game series with an 8-2 thrashing of the West Virginia Power.

The BlueClaws (7-6) were held off the board in the first but then tallied in the next four innings as they built their lead. In the second the BlueClaws got Jim Murphy on with a lead-off single and he advanced on an error in a pickoff attempt. Murphy then scored on an RBI-single off the bat of Travis Mattair to take a 1-0 lead.

In the third, D’Arby Myers, who had three hits in the game, led things off with a double and scored on a triple by Anthony Gose to make it 2-0. The scoring would continue in the third.

Building towards their biggest inning, the BlueClaws got runners on first and second with no outs as Murphy was hit by a pitch and Jeremy Hamilton extended his on-base streak to 30 with a walk. Zach Collier then walked to load the bases before Troy Hanzawa hit a sacrifice fly and Myers an RBI-double to make it 4-0.

The Power (8-4) got a run in the bottom of the inning, however in the fifth the BlueClaws poured it on. Korby Mintken led off with a single, followed by a single by Gose and an RBI double by Brendan Akashian. Murphy then plated two with a double and Collier added the fourth run of the inning with a triple. The BlueClaws had built a seven-run lead behind Sanchez and this time it was the bats and not rain that had the game’s outcome known early.

Sanchez (4-5) went six innings and allowed just four hits and one unearned run for his fourth win as a professional. His ERA is now below four on the season. Jacob Diekman then came on in the seventh and worked two scoreless, continuing to impress with his new sidearm windup. Jared Simon finished the game off and allowed a run in the ninth.

Rafael de los Santos (0-2) started and struggled for the Power as he allowed four runs, three earned in four innings after not allowing a run in his last two starts.  Wilson Oritz also struggled in relief as he allowed four runs in three innings.

The BlueClaws will now travel to Kannapolis to take on the Intimidators in a four game series in North Carolina beginning on Wednesday at 7:05 pm. The BlueClaws will send Heitor Correa to the mound, he will be opposed by Nevin Griffith (0-0)

CHARLESTON, WV – The Lakewood BlueClaws had the lead with the bullpen set up to close things out, but again, in a second half trend, the ‘pen allowed big innings to get in the way in an 8-4 loss on Monday night to the West Virginia Power.

In a sea-saw battle the BlueClaws (6-6) got on the board first in the top of the third inning as Vladimir De Los Santos doubled to lead off the inning. He was sacrificed to third before a Harold Garcia sacrifice fly brought him in. However, the Power (8-3) struck right back in the third with a run of their own to tie the game at one.

The score would stay 1-1 until an active sixth for both teams. The BlueClaws batted first and tallied three to take a 4-1 lead. In the inning, Anthony Gose led things off with a single and the Travis d’Arnaud walked. Jim Murphy also singled, scoring Gose before Jeremy Hamilton reached on an error. With the bases loaded, Zach Collier hit a single, scoring two more to make it a 4-1 game.

Jason Knapp was in line for the win as he started the game and went five innings, allowing one earned run and striking out five. Knapp has not won since May 2^nd, despite a string of fantastic starts, and he would not get a win today.

Ryan Bergh (3-4) came on in the sixth with a three-run lead and it was 5-4 by innings end. Bergh got the first out before a runner reached but then allowed five straight hits on a triple, two singles and two doubles, as four of the five scored to make it a 5-4 game.

With a 5-4 lead, Rob Roth came into the ballgame and also had a tough time. He allowed two walks and singles by Quincy Latimore, Tony Sanchez and Calvin Anderson. All told, three runs came in to score and it became an 8-4 ballgame.

Quniton Miller, from Medford, NJ, started and went five innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs. He gets a no decision while Casey Erickson (4-3) gets the win as he pitched one inning, coming on in the sixth and Duke Welker gets the save as he went three innings and did not allow a run.

With a single, Hamilton extends his league-long on-base streak to 29 games. The BlueClaws are now 0-4 in their attempts to get to 18 games above .500.

The BlueClaws and Power will wrap up their four-game series with the Power leading 2-1 on Tuesday at 7:05 pm. The BlueClaws will send Jesus Sanchez (3-5) to the mound and he will be opposed by righty Rafael de los Santos (0-1).  

CHARLESTON, WV – The Lakewood BlueClaws continued their trend of not allowing their opponents to sweep them in doubleheaders as they upend the West Virginia Power in game two by the score of 9-3.

The BlueClaws (6-5) got out to an early lead as Harold Garcia reached on an error to start the game and then Anthony Gose singled to centerfield. Gose advanced to second on a ground ball and scoring Garcia then Gose scored on a single by Jeremy Hamilton.

The BlueClaws added two more runs in the second as Gose singled home Troy Hanzawa and Garcia who reached on a fielder’s choice scored as Gose stole second and the ball was thrown into centerfield.

The Power (7-3) got on the board in the second, but could only muster two runs off of starter Freddy Ballestas and the BlueClaws bullpen. Ballestas only went four innings, so he was not eligible for the win. However, he allowed one earned run and struck out three. Jared Simon (1-0) worked two scoreless before Rob Roth finished off the game and allowed one run.

The BlueClaws got two more runs in the fourth as Zach Collier led the inning off with a single and he was batted home by Hanzawa who hit his first home run of the season. The score was now 6-1 and the game was well in hand.

The Power got one back in the bottom of the inning, but the BlueClaws scored three in the sixth. In the sixth, D’Arby Myers, Gose and Garcia walked before Hamilton reached on an error, scoring Myers and Travis Mattair hit a double, plating two more to take a 9-2 lead.

The Power starter Gabriel Alvarado (4-7) took the loss as he went four innings and allowed ten hits and six runs, four earned. The Power bullpen then allowed three more unearned runs in five innings.

The BlueClaws have yet to be swept this season in a doubleheader or in a series and are back to 17 games above .500.

The BlueClaws and the Power will resume their four-game series on Monday at 7:05 pm with Jason Knapp (2-6) on the mound and the opposing pitcher is to be announced.  

CHARLESTON, WV – The new-look first-place West Virginia Power showed no signs of the team that finished in dead last in the first half of the season with a 7-1 victory in the first game of the doubleheader on Sunday. Rudy Owens picked up the win for the Power, which surpasses former Lakewood BlueClaws pitcher Jon Velasquez for the league lead.

Justin De Fratus (2-2) made his second start of the season since earning a place in the All-Star game from being in the bullpen. He ran into trouble in the first and throughout his outing.

De Fratus allowed a run in the first and then three in the second as Danny Bomback singled to start the inning before back-to-back doubles and another single. Two scored on the second double by Anderson Chourio and one scored on the single by Quincy Latimore, making it a 4-0 ballgame.

De Fratus allowed another run in the third and did not start the fourth. All told, he pitched three innings, allowed eight hits and five runs, four earned, as he picked up his second loss of the season. Jordan Ellis entered in the fourth and pitched one inning and allowed three hits and two runs. Jacob Diekman pitched two scoreless to round out the day.

Owens (10-1) went five innings and allowed just two hits, no runs and three strikeouts. He now has not allowed a run in his last 31 innings, and has not allowed a walk in 44 innings. He leads the South Atlantic League with a 1.79 ERA.

The lone run for the BlueClaws came in their last at-bats as Vladimir De Los Santos hit his first home run of the season off of relief pitcher Ryan Kelly who ended the game.

The BlueClaws (5-5) and Power (7-2) will play game two shortly after game one, with Freddy Ballestas opposing Gaberial Alvarado.

CHARLESTON, WV – The game on July 4^th between the Lakewood BlueClaws and the West Virginia Power has been postponed due to rain. The game will be made up on Sunday, July 5^th as part of two seven-inning contests.

The games will begin at 5:05 pm with Justin De Fratus taking his second turn since joining the starting rotation. He will be opposed by Gabriel Alvarado (4-6). The second game will begin 30 minutes after the first and it will feature a matchup of two of the top pitchers in the South Atlantic League if the rotations hold. Jason Knapp (2-6) will face Rudy Owens (9-1) in the second game.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Lakewood BlueClaws end their season-long nine-game homestand with an impressive 2-0 win against the Greensboro Grasshoppers. Trevor May went six innings for the BlueClaws to pick up his first win of the season and Rob Roth and BJ Rosenberg helped in the shutout effort.

The BlueClaws (5-4) got on the board first in the fourth inning as Anthony Gose lead off with a walk and took off for second during the next at-bat with Travis d’Arnaud at the plate. On that pitch, d’Arnaud sent the ball screaming to center, and the ball hit of the glove of centerfielder Kevin Mattison as he dove to catch the ball. The ball got away from Mattison, allowing Gose to score, and d’Arnaud to advance to second.

The BlueClaws added a run of insurance in the seventh as Zach Collier singled to lead things off and advanced to third as Troy Hanzawa reached on a bunt single and took another base on a throwing error by third baseman Jake Smolinski. Collier then scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Vladimir De Los Santos.

May (1-1) started the game and on the heels of a six-inning two-run performance, May goes another six innings and does not allow a run. He got help from his defense as Gose ended the third inning with an outfield assist getting Mattison at home, but he pitched very well. May allowed six hits, struck out six and walked just one. Rob Roth pitched a clean seventh and BJ Rosenberg worked his second consecutive six-out save for his team-leading 13^th.

Kyle Kaminska started for the Grasshoppers (2-6) and lasted into the seventh and left with two on and no outs. However he was very effective, but takes the loss despite allowing just one earned run.

The BlueClaws end the homestand at 5-4 and are now a season-high 17 games over .500 overall. During the homestand the BlueClaws lost consecutive games on two occasions, but still end on the positive side of .500.

The BlueClaws will now hit the road for eight games with four games at first-place West Virginia and then four games at Kannapolis. The BlueClaws will send Justin De Fratus (2-1) to the mound for his second start of the season after coming from the bullpen and the Power will call on righty Gabriel Alvarado (4-6).

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 – 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 – 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).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – The bottom of the fifth ended up being the final inning for the Lakewood BlueClaws bats and they made the most of it with two runs, taking a 3-1 lead before fog ended the game after the top of the sixth. The win split the series with the Hagerstown Suns and coupled with a loss by the Delmarva Shorebirds, gets the BlueClaws back to 1.5 games ahead in the division.

With one out in the fifth, Anthony Gose hit a double to left before Steve Susdorf walked to put two runners on. A wild pitch from starter Paul Demny moved the runners up a base before a two-run single by Jim Murphy broke a 1-1 tie, giving the BlueClaws (34-24) a 3-1 lead.

The Suns (26-29) took an early lead when the league-leader in home runs, Derek Norris hit a solo shot, his 13^th to take a 1-0 lead. That would be all the scoring the Suns would muster as Heitor Correa (3-2) scattered 11 base runners over 5.2 innings, only allowing the one run on the solo home run.

The BlueClaws scored their first run in the fourth inning as Jeremy Hamilton doubled and Troy Hanzawa brought him home with a single to tie the game at one.

Before the fog ended the game, the Suns had their biggest threat. With a man on, Correa walked Jose Lozada and then was lifted from the game. Justin De Fratus then came on and walked Steve Lombardoizzi before getting Norris to ground out with the bases loaded, ending the inning.

Demny (1-5), the starter for the Suns, went 4.2 innings and allowed three runs in the loss, as the BlueClaws avoided losing their third game in a row. The BlueClaws move to 6-0 when losing their two previous games.

The BlueClaws will now travel to East Lake, OH for a three-game series with the Lake County Captains beginning Friday night at 7:00 pm. The BlueClaws will call on Jesus Sanchez (1-4) while the Captains will look to TJ House (1-6)

LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Lakewood BlueClaws lost a 1-0 lead in the ninth inning, and lost the game in the eleventh as they lose to the Hagerstown Suns 3-1 and cling to their lead in the South Atlantic League Northern Division. With the loss, the BlueClaws are now .5 games ahead of the Delmarva Shorebird, with an extra loss in the loss column.

The game was a pitchers’ duel as Suns (26-28) starter Brad Peacock and BlueClaws (33-24) starter Jason Knapp battled late into the ballgame with the score tied at zero. However the breakthrough came in the bottom of the eighth inning with no one on base and D’Arby Myers at the plate. Myers doubled to deep left field, before Harold Garcia ripped a triple to dead center, scoring Myers and giving the BlueClaws a 1-0 lead. With one out, Gose hit a fly ball to centerfield, Garcia tried to tag and score, but was called out at the plate.

In the ninth, Ryan Bergh came on and walked the leadoff hitter Charlie Fermaint before Michael Guerrero moved him to second with a ground ball out and Robert Jacobsen came to the plate. Jacobsen grounded to the right side, a tough play, Garcia knocked it down but too far from his body, allowing Fermaint to score, tying the game at one.

In the eleventh inning, the Suns got a leadoff double by Steven Souza off Bergh (3-3) to start the inning and used that to score the eventual game winning run. After a sacrifice bunt, Guerrero singled Souza home to take a 2-1 lead. Guerrero advanced on a ground ball, and then scored another run on a single to right field by Robert Jacobsen to make it 3-1.

Knapp set the tone, striking out the side in the first, and finished with three more in his seven innings of work. He pitched very well, allowing just four hits and no runs, but the lack of run support keeps Knapp from winning his third game of the season.

Peacock was equally as effective in his seven innings of work. He allowed the same number of hits, four, and the same number of runs, zero, as his counterpart Knapp. Peacock struck out two hitters and did not allow a baserunner past first. Kevin Light (2-1), who pitched the bottom of the 10^th gets the win and Carlos Peralta, earns the save.

The BlueClaws and the Suns will finish their four-game series on Thursday at 7:05 as the first half of the season continues to wind down. The BlueClaws will call on Heitor Correa (2-2) to pitch the series finale and the Suns will start righty Paul Demny (1-4).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – In a superb relief outing, Patrick McCoy pitched 6.1 innings and shut out the Lakewood BlueClaws in a 4-3 win for the Hagerstown Suns on Tuesday night. With just 14 games the play, the BlueClaws will remain in first place, but their lead will shrink to 1.5 games over the Delmarva Shorebirds.

The scoring began in the second inning as the Suns (25-28) struck for three against All-Star starter Tyler Cloyd. After a leadoff strikeout to Steven Souza, Cloyd (6-3) allowed a single to Charlie Fermaint, before an RBI-triple to Nick Arata, an RBI-single to Robert Jacobsen and another run scoring on an error. All told, the Suns scored three runs and took that lead to the bottom of the second.

In the bottom of the second, the BlueClaws (33-23) answered with two runs of their own as Steve Susdorf, continuing his torrid pace this season at the plate, worked a full count and homered off rehabbing Major Leaguer Matt Chico on a 3-2 pitch. That made it 3-1 and a single by Zach Collier scored Sebastian Valle after he doubled to make it 3-2.

In the ninth, after Susdorf flew out to center field, Jim Murphy stung a ball off the top of the wall in deep center field. The outfielders neglected the ball, thinking it was a home run, and Murphy circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run. In a one-run game, Mattair then doubled to put the tying run on second base with one out. However, Valle struck out swinging and Collier did the same, ending the game.

The Suns added a run of insurance with a leadoff home run in the sixth off the bat of Steven Souza. This was Cloyd’s last inning as he went six, even after struggling in the second. He allowed four runs, three earned, while striking out three. Santo Hernandez worked the final three innings and shut out the Suns, keeping the BlueClaws in the game.

Chico, the opening day starter for the Washington Nationals in 2008, made his first start since having Tommy Johns surgery last season. In his rehab stint, he went just two innings and allowed two runs. McCoy (1-1) then came on in the third and was fantastic; he pitched into the ninth inning and did not allow a run. He picks up a well-deserved first win of the season. Osvaldo Rodriguez worked the final two outs in the ninth, working out of trouble and picking up his ninth save.

The BlueClaws will be back in action at 7:05 pm on Wednesday in game three of their four game series with the Suns. The BlueClaws will send Jason Knapp (2-4) to the mound, and he will be opposed by Brad Peacock (1-5).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Jon Velasquez pitched a gem, aiding the Lakewood BlueClaws to their fourth shutout of the season and a 3-0 victory against the Hagerstown Suns, maintaining their lead atop the standings.

The BlueClaws (33-22) got on the board in the game’s first inning as Anthony Gose was put on base with a hit by pitch, before stealing second base to get in scoring position. With two outs, Steve Susdorf doubled to the gap in right field, bringing home Gose and giving the BlueClaws all the runs they would need in the game against the Suns (24-28).

The BlueClaws added a run in the third inning as Troy Hanzawa led off the inning with a double and later scored as Gose hit a double to right field to make it 2-0.

In the fifth inning, the BlueClaws added a run of insurance as Susdof grabbed his second RBI of the day, driving in Gose with a single to the opposite field.

Velasquez (8-2) was brilliant in his seven innings of work on Monday as he allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out six and not allowing a run. The win is his eighth and it keeps him in first place in that category in the South Atlantic League. Rob Roth, in his first action since being placed on the disabled list on April 28th, pitched two outs in the eighth, before walking two batters and taken out for BJ Rosenberg who ended the inning. Rosenberg pitched the ninth and picked up his eighth save.

Jack McGeary (0-5) was in search of his first win of the season, and didn’t pitch poorly despite picking up the loss. He went into the fifth and allowed one run in each of three innings. He was relieved by Kevin Light and Carlos Peralta who kept the Suns in the game as they did not allow a run. Osvaldo Rodriguez also pitched a clean eighth to keep the game close.

With the win, the BlueClaws remain at least 2.5 games ahead in the South Atlantic League Northern Division, potentially more, with just 15 games remaining on their first half schedule.

The BlueClaws will continue their four-game series on Tuesday at 7:05pm as they will send All-Star pitcher Tyler Cloyd (6-2) to the mound. Cloyd has won five straight decisions. He will be opposed by Major League pitcher Matt Chico (0-0), who will be pitching on a rehab assignment with the Suns. Chico was the opening day starter for the Washington Nationals in 2008 and has made 39 starts for the Nationals.

SALISBURY, MD – In a crazy, extra-innings affair that saw each team leading into their opponents final at-bats, it’s the Lakewood BlueClaws that prevail 6-5 against the Delmarva Shorebirds in game two of their doubleheader. This was a crucial game with potential playoff implications.

The Shorebirds (28-23) got out to an early two-run lead in the first inning after the BlueClaws failed to score with the bases loaded in no outs in the first. The Shorebirds had no one on base and two outs when Elvin Polanco hit a solo home run and the combination of a Joe Mahoney single, stolen base and LJ Hoes single plated another run.

The newest BlueClaws (32-22) player made an impact in the third as Steve Susdorf doubled home Anthony Gose, who singled and Jim Murphy, who was hit by a pitch. The game was now tied at two, but there was more scoring to be had.

The Shorebirds then took the lead in the fifth and added an important run of insurance in the sixth off of Justin De Fratus to take a 4-2 lead as play headed into the top of the seventh and last inning.

Travis d’Arnaud led the inning off reaching on an error and Jim Murphy singled to put the tying runs on base. Another Susdorf RBI brought the BlueClaws to within just one before Travis Mattair bunted to move both runners into scoring position. Sebastian Valle struck out before a wild pitch scored a run and moved Murphy to third. With the game tied, Collier singled in Murphy to take a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the last.

In the bottom half, the BlueClaws called on BJ Rosenberg for the save, however an error allowed Xavier Avery to reach base before, with two outs, Tyler Kolodny doubled home the game tying run and the game went into extras.

After a scoreless eighth, Jeremy Hamilton walked to lead off the ninth inning before Mattair grounded into what looked like a double-play ball. Two errors later, one on a throw to second and another on a throw to third in an attempt to get Hamilton taking the extra base allowed him to score and take the 6-5 lead the BlueClaws would hold onto in the bottom of the inning.

Jesus Sanchez started and picked up a no decision as he went five innings and allowed three runs on four hits. He was relieved by De Fratus, who allowed a run in an inning and Rosenberg who allowed an unearned run in an inning. Ryan Bergh (3-2) came on in the eighth and closed the door in the ninth to pick up the win.

Nathan Moreau threw a lot of pitches and only lasted 2.1 innings, allowing three hits and two runs. He was relieved by Brent Allar and Joe Esposito. Esposito allowed three unearned runs in two innings. Travis Keating (0-1) worked the final two innings in extras and allowed the unearned run in the loss.

The win prevents the BlueClaws from losing their third straight and being swept. They have ye to lose three consecutive games this season. The win also keeps the BlueClaws 2.5 games ahead of the Shorebirds in the South Atlantic League Northern Division.

The BlueClaws will enjoy their first scheduled day off in 24 days on Sunday before coming home for a four-game series with the Hagerstown Suns. Each game of the series will begin at 7:05. Game one will feature Jon Velasquez (7-2), and he will be opposed by lefty Jack McGeary (0-4).

SALISBURY, MD – Despite scoring in just one inning, the Delmarva Shorebirds did enough damage in the first inning to sneak past the Lakewood BlueClaws 3-2 in game one of a doubleheader.

In the first, off of Heitor Correa, the Shorebirds (28-22) got the leadoff batter Xavier Avery on with a bunt single, followed by another single by Ron Welty and a run-scoring groundout. Joe Mahoney then tripled in Welty for the second run before a wild pitch allowed Mahoney to score to take a 3-0 lead.

Correa (2-2) would then settle down to throw a complete game, six innings, allowing those three runs and six hits. The bad first would doom Correa and the BlueClaws.

In the sixth, the BlueClaws (31-22) struck back with a run as Jim Murphy hit his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot to make it 3-1 before things got interesting in the seventh.

Brandon Cooney relieved Eddie Gamboa in the seventh and walked the first two hitters he faced. Sebastian Valle struck out before Harold Garcia battled and hit an RBI-single to make it a 3-2 game with runners on first and second with one out. Cooney then settled to get Anthony Gose swinging and Steve Susdorf to ground out harmlessly.

Drake (2-2) picked up the win as he went five innings and did not allow a run. Gamboa allowed the home run to Murphy before Cooney picked up his eighth save of the season.

The win ties the BlueClaws in the loss column with Delmarva and just 1.5 games ahead of the Shorebirds. The Shorebirds are now 7-2 this season against the BlueClaws.

The third and final game of the shortened series takes place at 7:05 on Saturday. It will feature Jesus Sanchez (1-4) against Nathan Moreau (1-1).

SALISBURY, MD – A bloop infield single was enough in the bottom of the seventh inning after a walk started the bottom of the inning in a 2-1 win for the Delmarva Shorebirds, inching them a game closer at 2.5 behind the Lakewood BlueClaws.

The game turned out to be a battle of top pitchers as the BlueClaws started Jason Knapp and the Shorebirds, Ryan O’Shea. The BlueClaws got on the board in the third inning as they loaded the bases with one out. Travis d’Arnaud hit a ground ball to score Troy Hanzawa from third as an out was recorded. Then Jeremy Hamilton tried to take the extra base and score another run, but the Shorebirds reacted quickly and ended the inning, cutting him down at the plate.

The lead was short-lived however, as the Shorebirds paired a couple of base hits around a ground out that moved Luis Bernardo to second where he would eventually score. The run tied the game at one.

Knapp, one of the highest rated players in the Phillies organization, worked well in five innings as he allowed just three hits and one run while striking out six. He was relieved by Santo Hernandez, who pitched a clean sixth, but a walk to the leadoff runner in the seventh was his undoing in the loss.

O’Shea picked up the win in what was a complete game for him. He pitched seven innings and allowed five hits and an unearned run to pick up the win.  

Game two was postponed due to rain and will be played on Friday beginning at 5:05 pm. The game will feature Heitor Correa (2-1) against Oliver Drake (1-2).

GREENSBORO, NC – The Lakewood BlueClaws, behind their ace Tyler Cloyd and the hitting of Harold Garcia and Jim Murphy won on Tuesday 4-3, taking three of four from the Greensboro Grasshoppers, making it six of their last seven and taking three off four on the road. The win, coupled with a loss by the Delmarva Shorebirds puts the BlueClaws a season-high three and a half games in first place in the South Atlantic League Northern Division.

Billed as a pitching duel between the ace of each team’s staff, Cloyd (6-2) and Johnny Dorn (6-2) delivered in a big game for both teams. The game was tied at zero until the third inning when, with a runner on, Harold Garcia hit his fourth home run of the season, making it a 2-0 lead for the BlueClaws.

The BlueClaws (31-20) added to their lead in the sixth as Murphy walked and Jeremy Hamilton helped execute a perfect hit-and-run later scoring Murphy from third on a sacrifice fly.

Up 3-0 in the seventh, Cloyd allowed a baserunner before being lifted in favor of Ryan Bergh who allowed the runner to score, and an additional runner to make it 3-2 as play entered the eighth.

Murphy led the inning off with his second triple of the season and scored on a single by Travis Mattair, giving the BlueClaws a much needed insurance run, making it 4-2.

The Grasshoppers (26-26) and Jeremy Synan led the ninth inning off with a solo home run, to make it a one-run game but Bergh completed the eight-out save after that, for his ninth save of the season.

Cloyd picked up the win as he scattered nine hits and one run over 6.1 innings. He allowed three walks, upping his total in over 70 innings to just ten. Bergh was the only other pitcher used.

The loss went to Dorn who pitched six innings and allowed three runs and six hits. Brandon Todd, who allowed the crucial eighth-inning run, picked up a no decision.

The BlueClaws are once again 11 games over .500, their highest mark of the season and are 3.5 games ahead of the Shorebirds before a four game series with them beginning on Wednesday at 7:05. In game one of the series, the BlueClaws will send Jason Knapp (2-4) to the mound, and he will be opposed by Ryan O’Shea (3-2).

Note: The BlueClaws activated Rob Roth from the DL, he has been out since April 28^th with an oblique strain and have sent relief pitcher Esmelvin Jiminez to Extended Spring Training.  

GREENSBORO, NC – After a crushing loss and an early 2-0 lead, the Lakewood BlueClaws, with the help of their bats and poor defense by the Greensboro Grasshoppers, storm back to win their fifth gave out of six, 11-6.

The Grasshoppers (26-25) got out to an early lead on starter Jon Velasquez and the BlueClaws (30-20) as Ben Lasater led off the second inning with his ninth home run of the season, a solo shot and a 1-0 lead. A Justin Jacobs sacrifice fly later in the inning, scoring Jake Smolinski made it a 2-0 lead before the BlueClaws bat came alive and the Grasshoppers defense fell asleep.

It took until the fifth, but the BlueClaws got to spot starter Wade Korpi as Harold Garcia reached on an error before Anthony Gose was hit by a pitch and Travis d’Arnaud hit his third home run in as many games. The home run made it 3-2 but the BlueClaws were not done yet. Jim Murphy walked, Korpi was relieved by Andy Loomis before Jeremy Hamilton singled and advanced to third on another error before Travis Mattair reached on a third error to score Murphy. The BlueClaws scored four in the fifth.

The BlueClaws added to their lead in the sixth as Garcia singled and then scored on a Gose double, who then scored on a single by d’Arnaud. Murphy singled for the fourth straight hit before another error allowed d’Arnaud to take third. The next batter Hamilton hit a sacrifice fly to give the BlueClaws a five-run lead at 7-2.

The Grasshoppers struck back for two in the sixth however, and left men on base to make it a 7-4 game, and potentially more, but the inning ended with just two runs scoring.

In the three-run game, the BlueClaws scored again in the seventh, as Troy Hanzawa Walked and Korby Mintken singled and they both scored on a double by Gose. The lead was five and would stay at five as the BlueClaws scored for their fourth straight inning getting one in the eighth, equaling the total the Grasshoppers scored in the bottom of the seventh.

The BlueClaws scored another run in the ninth, their fifth straight inning with a run as Korby Mintken added run number 11, tying for the most the BlueClaws have scored in a single game this season.

Velasquez (7-2) picked up his seventh win of the season as he went 5.1 innings, allowing five hits and three runs. He continues to get tremendous run support when he is on the mound. Santo Hernandez finished the sixth and pitched the seventh and allowed two runs, one earned, his first earned run allowed in 13 innings. Ryan Airail pitched a clean eighth and ninth and allowed a run in the ninth.  

Korpi (1-2) made the spot start for the Grasshoppers, who were in need of help after having a doubleheader over the weekend. He went 4.1 and allowed four runs, two earned. Loimis then allowed four runs, three earned before Dan Jennings couldn’t stop the BlueClaws as he allowed three runs to end the game.

The Grasshoppers made six errors in the game, accounting for four BlueClaws runs, one less than the margin of victory.

With the win and a loss by the Delmarva Shorebirds, the BlueClaws erase the dreadful loss from Sunday and are back at 2.5 games ahead of second place. They have won five of their last six games.

The BlueClaws and Grasshoppers will play their final game of a four-game series at 12:35pm on Tuesday and it will be a battle of top pitchers in the South Atlantic League. Tyler Cloyd (5-2) who has been the BlueClaws best starter will be opposed by Johnny Dorn (6-1) the best pitcher for the Grasshoppers. The BlueClaws will look to win the series, while the Grasshoppers will look for a split.

GREENSBORO, NC – Looking for their fifth straight win, the BlueClaws carried a 7-3 lead into the eighth, but a five-run eighth inning for the Greensboro Grasshoppers turned the tides and gave them the shock 8-7 victory.

The BlueClaws (29-20) entered the game 22-4 when scoring four runs in a ballgame and it took just one inning to reach that magic number, however the trend would not hold. Harold Garcia started the game off with a strikeout before Anthony Gose turned a walk into a triple with two stolen bases. Another walk to Travis d’Arnaud put two runners on before Jim Murphy singled in a run and Jeremy Hamilton flew out. With a run in and one on with two outs, Travis Mattair singled, Zach Collier doubled and Troy Hanzawa reached on an error. That action resulted in three more runs and a 4-0 lead.

The Grasshoppers (26-24) starter Kyle Kaminska then settled down for the next two innings before, in a 4-1 ballgame, Garcia hit his third home run of the season, a solo shot, making it 5-1.

The ‘hoppers then got to BlueClaws starter Jesus Sanchez in the fifth, as he allowed a solo home run to Justin Bass to lead off the inning, and then an RBI double to Paul Gran, making it a two-run game at 5-3.

Sanchez would leave the game with the lead and in line for his second win of the season. However, he received a no decision. He went five innings, allowed three runs on five hits, while striking out two. He was relieved by Justin De Fratus.

The BlueClaws then got the two runs of breathing room back on one swing in the sixth, as d’Arnaud hit his second home run in as many games, scoring Gose, who walked, and giving the BlueClaws a 7-3 lead.

De Fratus continued the amazing job the BlueClaws bullpen has been doing with two clean innings in the sixth and seventh, before giving way to Jacob Diekman, his first action since May 22^nd. Diekman then ran into trouble in the eighth.

The Grasshoppers would tie the game off Diekman, who did not record an out before being lifted, as they hit two home runs, a double and a single for four runs, knotting it at seven. BJ Rosenberg (4-2) was then called upon to keep the game tied, and he couldn’t. Rosenberg allowed a single to his first batter, who moved up to third and then scored on an infield single. With the scored 8-7 now, favoring the Grasshoppers, Rosenberg finished the inning, a total of five scoring in the inning. He is saddled with the loss.

Kaminska lasted five innings as well for the Grasshoppers, and allowed five runs. Jared Yecker, who shut the BlueClaws down his last time out, went two innings and allowed the two-run home run to d’Arnaud. Brandon Todd (2-1) was the pitcher of record since he tossed in the eighth, and Peter Andrelczyk got the save, his ninth.

The BlueClaws will remain in first place in the South Atlantic League by at least 1.5 games, potentially more, depending what Delmarva does on Sunday against Kannapolis.

In the game, Gose stole four bases, increasing his lead in all of Minor League Baseball and inching him closer to the BlueClaws all-time record. He now has 35.

The BlueClaws will continue their three game series in Greensboro on Monday at 7:05 pm and they will send Jon Velasquez to the mound, searching for his seventh win of the season. The Grasshoppers have yet to name a starter.

GREENSBORO, NC – The Lakewood BlueClaws needed just three hits to dispatch the Greensboro Grasshoppers 3-2 to win their fourth game in a row. The BlueClaws used fantastic pitching and a two-run fourth to secure the win.

Travis d’Arnaud, looking for a spark to turn his season around, started things off for the BlueClaws (29-19) in the first inning as he blasted his team-leading fifth home run of the season to get the visitors out to a 1-0 lead.

However, in the first at-bat for the Grasshoppers (25-24), Paul Gran equaled d’Arnaud with a solo shot of his own to tie the game at one off of BlueClaws starter Heitor Correa.

Correa did not let the early shot faze him as he only allowed a third inning run before being lifted after six strong innings of work.

With a 2-1 lead, the BlueClaws batted in the top of the fourth and got things rolling with two men out. With no-one on, Jim Murphy walked before Sebastian Valle was hit by a pitch. Travis Mattair reached on an infield single, loading the bases for Zach Collier. Collier walked in a run, to tie the ballgame at two before a wild pitch by starter Brad Hand, scoring Valle and giving the BlueClaws the lead and two runs in the inning without the ball leaving the infield.

With the lead, Correa (2-1) ran into trouble in the sixth, but worked out of 1^st and 3^rd with a ground ball double play before being lifted for Santo Hernandez. Hernandez, who has been lights out for the BlueClaws of late, continued that trend as he allowed just one baserunner in the seventh and eighth innings. Ryan Bergh was then called upon to close the game out and he did so, despite an error, to pick up his eighth save of the season.

Hand (2-6) lasted 5.1 innings, allowing just two hits, but walked five and allowed three runs. His inability to find the zone in the fourth was his undoing and he took the loss, his sixth of the season. He was relieved by Bryan Evans, who turned around his last appearance against Lakewood where he allowed six runs, three shutout innings.

There were just seven hits in the game; the BlueClaws won despite having only three. The BlueClaws recorded two hits in an opening day loss to Delmarva.

With the win, the BlueClaws have won four straight and extended their lead in the South Atlantic League Northern Division to 2.5 games, with a loss by the second-place Delmarva Shorebirds.

The BlueClaws will continue their eight-game road swing and four-game series with the Grasshoppers, on Sunday at 4:05 as they’ll send Jesus Sanchez (1-4) to the mound still searching for his second professional win. He will be opposed by righty Kyle Kaminska (4-3).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – The “Cardiac Claws” get a run in the ninth to tie and win it in the tenth on a single by Jeremy Hamilton to defeat the West Virginia Power by the score of 3-2. The win gives the Lakewood BlueClaws a 5-3 homestand and a 3-1 series win.

The BlueClaws got out to an early lead, but wasted opportunities in the beginning of the game as starter Duke Welker walked six in the first three innings. The BlueClaws got their first run in the first as Anthony Gose walked and stole a bag before Jim Murphy grabbed his 23^rd RBI of the season with a smash double to left field.

Jason Knapp started for the BlueClaws and pitched well after a pair of rough appearances at home in his last two outings. However, he was touched up for single runs in the fourth and fifth as he allowed leadoff runners to score in both innings. Greg Picart scored after doubling to start the fourth and Jeremy Farrell scored after a leadoff single in the fifth. Knapp went six and allowed those two runs and five hits while striking out only four.

In the ninth, the BlueClaws began their comeback as Troy Hanzawa singled to leadoff the inning before advancing to second on a pickoff attempt. He got to third as D’Arby Myers laid down a bunt that was not fielded properly by the Power, also allowing Myers to reach. Garcia hit a deep fly ball to left, that the ballpark barely held, which allowed Hanzawa to score and tie the game at two.

In the tenth, Travis d’Arnaud reached on a throwing error and advanced to second before D’Arby Myers bunted him to third and also reached base. Travis Mattair went down before Hamilton got the game winner on a line drive single to left centerfield.

Welker went just 4.2 innings and was very wild, he walked seven batters and threw four wild pitches but only allowed one run. The BlueClaws could not take advantage of the free passes and bases and it almost cost them. Owen Brolsma finished the fifth and pitched the sixth before giving way to Ryan Kelly who pitched in the seventh and eighth. Eddie Pena (1-1) allowed the unearned game winner for his first loss.  

Knapp was relieved in the seventh by Ryan Airail who did well to work three clean innings to bridge the gap to BJ Rosenberg (4-1) who picked up the win in a clean tenth inning.

The BlueClaws went 5-3 during their eight-game homestand and are 10-6 in the first 16 games of their 24 games in 24 day stretch. The BlueClaws are nine games over .500 for the first time this season.

That stretch will continue on Saturday as the BlueClaws begin the first of another eight game road swing, beginning with four with the Greensboro Grasshoppers. The contest, which will start at 7:05, will feature Heitor Correa (1-1) against lefty Brad Hand (2-5). Correa has been a nice addition to the BlueClaws rotation as he has maintained a 2.40 ERA since taking over for the injured Rob Roth on May 3^rd.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Harold Garcia provides the game-winning hit in the seventh inning, the Lakewood BlueClaws add insurance in the eighth to win 5-3 against the West Virginia Power and remain in first place in the South Atlantic League with 24 games remaining in the first half.

It was another productive first inning for both of these teams as the Power (18-29) struck first and took a 1-0 lead on an unearned run. The leadoff hitter Greg Picart reached on an error before being sacrificed to second and driven in by Calvin Anderson on a flare single to right.

The BlueClaws (27-19) would then strike back and take the lead in the bottom of the first as both Anthony Gose and Travis d’Arnaud doubled and were brought in on a Jim Murphy single to left to take a 2-1. Both teams would then go silent at the plate.

Tyler Cloyd, the BlueClaws starter, worked through six innings better than anyone this season, throwing just 65 pitches but got touched up in the seventh with a pair of two out doubles that tied the game at three. Cloyd lasted seven innings, giving up three runs, two earned, and striking out eight. He was relieved by Justin De Fratus who pitched a quick seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, in a tie game, Troy Hanzawa reached on an error by the right fielder Austin McClune who lost the ball in the lights, and was replaced at first as D’Arby Myers hit into a fielder’s choice. Harold Garcia then stroked a double into the left centerfield gap, scoring Myers from first to take the lead 4-3.

The BlueClaws then started the eighth with back-to-back baserunners, Sebastian Valle was hit by a pitch and Travis Mattair singled. Hanzawa then hit a bloop to left, scoring Valle to take a 5-3 lead.

Cloyd (5-2) picked up the win, his fifth and fourth in a row, as Ryan Bergh worked a clean ninth inning for his seventh save of the season.

The loss went to Ramon Aguero (0-2), who allowed the runs in the seventh and eighth to the BlueClaws. The starter was Maurice Bankston, who pitched well in 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out four.

Valle reached base three times with a single and a double and Gose scored two runs, had three hits and stole three bases on the day.

The BlueClaws will look to take three games for the second straight series against the Power in the final game of the series and the final game of the eight game homestand. Through 15 games of the BlueClaws 24 games in 24 days, they have a record of 9-6. Jason Knapp (2-4) will be the starter against Duke Welker (0-5). Knapp is 6-foot-5 and Welker is 6-foot-7.  

LAKEWOOD, NJ – With the help of Phillies reliever J.C. Romero, the Lakewood BlueClaws dispatch the West Virginia Power as they scored early and held on late in a 5-3 victory on Wednesday afternoon.

Romero pitched the sixth and seventh innings in a rehab stint before his June 3^rd return to the Phillies and was as advertised, getting the six men he faced in order and picking up the hold.

The BlueClaws (26-19) started the game with a number of baserunners through the first three innings as Power (18-28) starter Gabriel Alvarado had trouble finding the zone early on. In the first, Anthony Gose reached on an error before Steve Susdorf was hit in the head, forcing him out of the game, and Jim Murphy walked to load the bases. Travis Mattair singled in a run, however the bases were left loaded.

In the second, with no one on and two outs, Harold Garcia walked before Gose was hit by a pitch and Travis d’Arnaud walked as well to load the bases. Sebastian Valle became the fourth straight BlueClaw to reach base without putting the ball in play as he walked and it made the game 2-0. The BlueClaws would leave the bases loaded again though in the second.

In the third, Mattair led off getting hit by a pitch, then Zach Collier singled before Troy Hanzawa singled. Mattair scored on a wild pitch and Collier on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Harold Garcia to make it a 4-0 lead.

BlueClaws starter Jon Velasquez (6-2) ran into trouble in the fourth as he allowed a leadoff walk to Chase d’Arnaud before walking Marcus Davis and allowing a run on a ground out. Then, with two on, Velasquez allowed a double to Austin McClune to make it a 4-3 game before getting Greg Picart to pop out to end the inning. Velasquez went five innings and allowed three runs to pick up his sixth win of the season.

After two perfect innings from Romero, the BlueClaws added a run in the eighth before the second half of BJ Rosenberg’s eighth save of the season. Rosenberg allowed five hits and a walk in two innings, loading the bases with one out in the ninth, but did not allow a run for the save.

The loss went to Alvarado (2-3), who only lasted three and allowed three runs and never took command of his pitches. The bullpen allowed one run in the last five innings to keep the game close.

The win was important for the BlueClaws as they gain a game on Delmarva, whom they were percentage points behind in first place in the South Atlantic League North Division. They are now in first place by a full game.

The BlueClaws and Power will be back in action on Thursday at 6:35 as Tyler Cloyd (4-2) will look to extend his three game winning streak. Cloyd will be opposed by Maurice Bankston (1-3).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – The late comeback for the Lakewood BlueClaws was not enough this time as the West Virginia Power hang on to a 4-3 victory in game one of a four game series on Tuesday night.

The Power (18-28) got out to a nice lead with a big second inning off Jesus Sanchez as they struck for three runs. Sanchez got into trouble with walks as he walked both Calvin Anderson and Quincy Lattimore so put two on with one out for Marcus Davis. Davis then struck a double to right, scoring Anderson to take a one run lead. With runners in scoring position, Josue Peley tripled in both runs to the corner in right field to take a 3-0 lead.

The Power added another run in the fourth as Davis tripled and scored on a ground ball to Troy Hanzawa by Erik Huber. However, the BlueClaws would attempt their comeback.

The BlueClaws (25-19) scored one in the bottom of the fourth as Steve Susdorf doubled to the corner in left, scoring Travis d’Arnaud who walked and making it a 4-1 game. The game got a run tighter as Jim Murphy hit his second double of the day, scoring Harold Garcia to make it a 4-2 game. The BlueClaws stranded runners in scoring position in the inning.

The BlueClaws had aspirations of tying the game in the ninth, but base running mistakes keep them from scoring the necessary two runs to win the game. After a single to lead off the inning, D’Arby Myers was caught stealing before a double by Travis Mattair, and a single by Zach Collier. Mattair was then thrown out at home on a weak groundball to the pitcher before another single that could have given the BlueClaws the victory. The BlueClaws scored on the last single by Jeremy Hamilton, but stranded Collier in scoring position.  

For the second time this season, the BlueClaws could not solve Kyle McPherson (4-1) as he went five innings and allowed just one run. He allowed one run in 6.1 innings in his first start this season against the BlueClaws in Charleston, WV. He was relieved by Brian Leach, who struggled, but allowed just one run in two innings. Owen Broisma pitched the eighth and Eddie Pena the ninth for the save.

Sanchez (1-3) went five innings and allowed four runs for the BlueClaws on five hits and two walks. He was relieved by Santo Hernandez, who continues to pitch very well, in four innings of work; he struck out four and did not allow a run to keep the BlueClaws in the game.

These same teams will be back in action on Wednesday afternoon at 11:05 am as the BlueClaws look to regain their dominance against the Power with Jon Velasquez (5-2) starting against Gabriel Alvarado (2-2).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – On twelve hits, the Lakewood BlueClaws put up eleven runs and ran away with the game 11-1 for an important victory and a four game split with the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Memorial Day Monday afternoon.

The BlueClaws (25-18), in a game they needed to play well to survive the series in first place, put up eleven runs in the victory and the scoring began in the fourth inning with the speed of Anthony Gose. Gose reached on an error, advanced to second on a walk and to third on a fielder’s choice on a double steal, Sebastian Valle getting thrown out at second. He then scored on a ground ball in the infield to give the BlueClaws the lead 1-0.

The BlueClaws would then strike for the first of two four run innings against the Grasshoppers (24-19), the first in the fifth inning. Travis Mattair led the inning off with a walk before Zach Collier reached on an error and Troy Hanzawa singled in a run to make it a 2-0 lead. The BlueClaws then scored single runs on a ground ball fielder’s choice by Korby Mintken, a single by D’Arby Myers and a sacrifice fly by Jim Murphy. After the inning, the BlueClaws lead was 5-0.

The second four-run inning was in the seventh off relief pitcher Bryan Evans as Myers singled to lead off the inning, Gose walked before Valle tripled down the line in left, scoring both Myers and Gose. With Valle on third, Murphy walked to the plate and then blasted a two-run home run over the wall in left field, making it a 9-0 lead and tying Travis d’Arnaud for the team lead with four home runs.

The BlueClaws added their final runs in the eighth as Myers scored his second run of the game on a single by Murphy. Valle hit a double in the inning, allowing Myers to advance to third. Mattair then added an RBI single, which brought Valle home.

The Grasshoppers got their only run of the game in the top of the ninth to spoil the shutout.

Not to be overlooked is the performance by BlueClaws starter Heitor Correa (1-1), who picked up his first win of the season. He went seven innings, allowed just five hits and no runs. He has pitched 13 innings at home this season and has yet to allow an earned run. Ryan Ariail pitched a clean eighth before Ryan Bergh closed out the game to get an inning of much needed work in.

Brad Hand (2-5) did not pitch poorly in his six innings as three of the five runs he allowed were unearned. However, Evans was then roughed up in his two innings of work in the seventh and eighth.

The eleven runs ties for the most scored in a ball game this season and the margin of ten runs is the most for the BlueClaws this year.

The BlueClaws managed to get a split of a four game series to keep their lead in the South Atlantic League Northern Division. They will now welcome the last-place West Virginia Power to FirstEnergy Park for a four game series beginning on Tuesday at 6:35. The BlueClaws will call on Jesus Sanchez (1-2) to start the series and he will be opposed by Kyle McPherson (3-1).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – A six-run sixth inning keyed the Greensboro Grasshoppers past the Lakewood BlueClaws on Sunday night after the BlueClaws pulled back an early three run deficit and play was ended in the top of the ninth due to rain.

In a battle of the top two teams in the South Atlantic League, the Grasshoppers (23-19) got out early on starter Jason Knapp as Ben Lasater approached the plate with two runners on in the first inning. Lasater sent a ball screaming over the wall for a three-run home run to take that lead, just four batters into the game.

The BlueClaws (24-18), as they have done the entire season, made a come back and used a leadoff walk by Jeremy Hamilton in the fourth, a single by Travis Mattair and a single by Zach Collier to tie the game at three. Troy Hanzawa hit an RBI groundout and Korby Mintken singled home a run as well.

Knapp settled down and worked quickly through the game until the sixth where he ran into big trouble. Knapp allowed a leadoff single to Paul Gran, followed by an RBI double by Jeremy Synan and then two walks to load the bases with the run already in. Knapp exited for Justin De Fratus and the hits continued. De Fratus then allowed a bases-clearing double to Kyle Skipworth and then a two-run home run to Justin Bass to make it a six-run inning and a six-run lead. The six runs are the most in a single inning allowed by the BlueClaws this season and they allowed two home runs in a game for the second time this season.

The score remained 9-3 until the top of the ninth, when the skies opened up and rain ended play prior to the ninth inning.

The final line on Knapp (2-4) includes five innings pitched, five hits and seven runs. The last time Knapp pitched at home, against Kannapolis, he allowed six runs in three innings. De Fratus then came on to work two innings and allowed two extra base hits and two runs. Esmelvin Jiminez worked a clean eighth inning.

Graham Johnson started the game well but ran into trouble in the fourth inning, allowing three runs on five hits, his day would end there. Jarred Yecker (2-2) came on in a tie ballgame to work three clean innings and pick up the victory and Andy Loomis worked a clean eighth before the rain ended play.

The BlueClaws will look for the split in the four game series on Monday, Memorial Day, at 1:05 as Heitor Correa (0-1) will face lefty Brad Hand (2-4). The loss for the BlueClaws is their third in the last four games and drops their lead in the division to just a half a game.

Note: With the fireworks not being held on Sunday, the BlueClaws will allow fans to exchange their tickets to the Sunday game for any game until July 4^th. The exchanges must be made at the BlueClaws ticket office and the tickets must be presented at the time of exchange.

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Two big errors in the seventh and eighth innings by the Greensboro Grasshoppers allows the Lakewood BlueClaws to erase a late 3-1 lead and remain in first place in the South Atlantic League Northern Division with a 4-3 victory on Saturday night.

In what would be another nail biter for the BlueClaws (24-17), they struck first for a run in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead but, considering the circumstances, would have wanted more. Jim Murphy led the inning off with a walk, followed by a strikeout and another walk to Travis Mattair, before Zach Collier singled in a run and Troy Hanzawa singled to load the bases. With the bases loaded, Korby Mintken struck out and Harold Garcia hit a flare to right that was snagged by the second baseman to end the inning.

The Grasshoppers (23-19) then came back with two runs of their own in the third off starter Tyler Cloyd as Daniel Purtusati doubled to lead the inning off and he scored on a double by Paul Gran, before another run came in on a groundout by Ben Lasater.

Both starters, Cloyd and Tom Koehler settled down and tossed three straight clean innings before the game got interesting in the seventh. Off Cloyd, Kyle Skipworth singled and Jeremy Synan took his place on the basepaths after a fielder’s choice before being lifted in favor of Santo Hernandez. Hernandez allowed a groundout, moving the runner before an RBI single to Purtusati making it a 3-1 game.

However, in the bottom of the inning, the BlueClaws answered. Collier led things off with a base hit and advanced to third on a perfectly executed hit-and-run by Hanzawa with no outs. Mintken hit a weak ground ball in the infield, scoring Collier to make it a 3-2 game with Harold Garcia coming to the plate. Garcia singled, moving Mintken to third before Anthony Gose struck out. Travis d’Arnaud then hit a sharp ground ball that was booted by Gran, the shortstop, scoring Mintken and tying the game at three.

In the eighth, the BlueClaws benefitted from another miscue as Daniel Purtusati dove keep a ground ball in the infield before throwing the ball away, allowing Mattair to score to take a 4-3 lead, the final score. Mattair reached in the inning after a single to left and advanced to second when Hanzawa singled.

Cloyd went 6.1 innings and was given a no decision, maintaining his three-game win streak which was in jeopardy. He allowed six hits and three runs, while striking out five. Hernandez (3-1) then came on to work 1.2 innings of scoreless baseball before BJ Rosenberg achieved his sixth save of the season

Koehler went six, allowing one and striking out six in the no decision as the starters did not factor in the game. Saddled with the loss is Brandon Todd (1-1) who allowed Mattair to reach in the eighth and score the eventual game-winning run.

The BlueClaws will be back in action, 1.5 games in first place on Sunday night at 7:05 against the second-place Grasshoppers in game three of a four-game series. Jason Knapp (2-4) will be on the mound for the BlueClaws and he will be opposed by righty Graham Johnson (1-0).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – In a battle of the top two teams in the South Atlantic League Northern Division, the Greensboro Grasshoppers struck early and held on late to win game one of a four game series 7-4 against the Lakewood BlueClaws on Friday night.

In a battle of five-win pitchers, Jon Velasquez and Johnny Dorn, it was Velasquez who struggled in the early-going and lasted just three innings as he allowed five runs. Velasquez worked a one-two-three first and had two outs in the second before Justin Jacobs doubled home Jeremy Synan and Robert Taylor singled home Synan to take a 2-0 lead.

The Grasshoppers (23-18) then fired for three runs in the third as Paul Gran singled to lead off the inning, and after a pop out, four straight hitters reached base to create trouble for Velasquez and the BlueClaws. The runs made it a 5-0 game before the BlueClaws (23-17) bats started to make some noise.

Jeremy Hamilton doubled and scored in the third to cut the lead to four before the Grasshoppers added a run in the next inning to keep the lead at five. Then Zach Collier batted in the fourth with no one on and two outs. Collier walked and then Troy Hanzawa singled before Hamilton scorched a ball off the wall in right field for a 2-RBI triple. D’Arby Myers then singled for the third run of the inning to make it a 6-4 game.

The Grasshoppers however, would add a run in the fifth as Synan led off the inning with a double and later scored off Jacob Diekman who came on in the fourth in relief of Velasquez. The 7-4 score would hold up for the remainder of the game.

Velasquez (5-2) picked up the loss and has not won in his last four starts, he went three innings and allowed five runs on seven hits for his second loss of the season. Diekman worked four runs in relief and allowed two as he struck out five. Justin De Fratus came on in the eighth and did not allow a run before BJ Rosenberg worked a clean ninth inning.

Dorn (6-1) picked up his league-leading sixth win, but it was not in the same fashion as he had been pitching this season. Dorn had an ERA of 2.64 coming into the ballgame as he allowed four runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings. He was relieved by Wade Korpi who worked out of a jam in the sixth and got his team to the ninth without allowing a run. Peter Andrelczyk came in for the ninth and he picked up his eight save of the season, only allowing a leadoff single.

The loss is the second in a row for the BlueClaws and it moves the Grasshoppers .5 games behind the BlueClaws for first place in the South Atlantic League Northern Division. The BlueClaws look to get back to their winning ways and it will be Tyler Cloyd (4-2) to try and get that done on Saturday at 7:05. Cloyd has been fantastic at home this season and is the guy the BlueClaws need to end the slide. He will be opposed by Tom Koehler (2-2).

CHARLESTON, WV – The Lakewood BlueClaws struggled to find outs in the third inning and failed in their attempt to sweep the West Virginia Power as a five-run third turned into a 6-1 win for the Power (14-26) on Thursday night, ending the BlueClaws (23-16) four game win streak and their eight game road swing.

In the third inning the leadoff batter Josue Peley walked to lead the inning off, before back-to-back errors by Troy Hanzawa and Travis d’Arnaud loaded the bases for the Power. Chase d’Arnaud then singled, followed by a Bobby Spain single and another single by Erik Huber aided the Power to five runs and the large advantage.

The BlueClaws only scored one on a sacrifice fly as they could not figure out Power starter Kyle McPherson (3-1) who went two outs into the seventh inning and picked up his second win of the year. He allowed just four hits and one run while striking out three for the win.   

BlueClaws starter Jesus Sanchez (1-3) picked up the loss and went six innings, the longest outing of his career and pitched well aside from the fifth inning. He was charged with three earned runs and nine hits over his six innings as he only walked one and struck out three. Ryan Ariail continued the BlueClaws bullpen dominance as he did not allow a run in two innings of work.

The loss dropped the BlueClaws to seven games over .500 but will still remain in first place before second-place Greensboro arrives in Lakewood for a four game series. The BlueClaws went 5-3 on their road swing and will return home for eight straight games, four with Greensboro and four with the Power.

The first game will start at 7:05 with Jon Velasquez (5-1) on the mound for the BlueClaws. He will be opposed by a fellow five-game winner in Johnny Dorn (5-1) in what should be a Memorial Day weekend filled with great action between the South Atlantic Leagues top two teams.

CHARLESTON, WV – The Lakewood BlueClaws got another strong performance from their bullpen on Wednesday as they sealed the team’s fourth victory in a row overall and third in a row over the West Virginia Power 4-3.

For the second game in a row, the BlueClaws (23-15) and the Power (13-26) played another close game but this time, it was the Power who scored first. They did so on a leadoff walk to Robbie Grossman who moved up to third as a ball was lined back off the head of BlueClaws starter Heitor Correa for a base hit. Correa was OK, but the Power would then take a 1-0 lead on a Chase d’Arnaud sacrifice fly.

The game would remain 1-0 until the fifth as the BlueClaws struck back with some offense. Troy Hanzawa nearly homered to lead off the inning, but it went as a double. After a sacrifice bunt by D’Arby Myers he scored on a fielder’s choice. With Harold Garcia on first, Anthony Gose doubled, scoring Garcia and giving the BlueClaws a 2-1 lead. Gose stole third, his 25^th stolen base of the season, and then scored on a Jim Murphy single to make it a 3-1 lead.

The Power were not done scoring however as they added single runs in the fifth and sixth to tie the game at three before the BlueClaws batted in the seventh. In the seventh, Travis d’Arnaud singled, and then Jim Murphy singled and moved up on a bunt. Murphy advanced on a hit by pitch before Zach Collier hit an RBI groundout to take a 4-3 lead.

Justin De Fratus and Ryan Bergh continued the great work by the BlueClaws pen this season and they shut down the Power to secure victory.

Correa struggled a little in his fourth start with the BlueClaws as he was lifted after 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on five hits. De Fratus (2-0) came into the game and continued his dominance with 1.2 innings of hitless baseball before Bergh came on and worked the final two innings for a six out save, his sixth of the season. The win goes to De Fratus his second of the season.

Rudy Owens was dominant until the fifth inning as he ran into a lot of trouble and was lifted after 4.2. He struck out nine and allowed two earned and six hits. Wilson Ortiz (0-1) relieved Owens and allowed the game-winning run in the seventh as he takes the loss.

With the win, the BlueClaws are now eight games over .500 for the first time this season, and they gain a game over second place and hold a 2.5 game advantage.

The BlueClaws will go for the four game sweep on Thursday at 7:05 in the final game of their eight game homestand, which they hold a 5-2 record on. Jesus Sanchez (1-2) will be on the mound for the BlueClaws and he will be opposed by Kyle McPherson (2-1).

CHARLESTON, WV – The BlueClaws bullpen, in support of starter Jason Knapp came up huge in a 4-2 victory against the West Virginia Power on Tuesday night. The win keeps the BlueClaws (22-15) 1.5 games atop the rest of the field in the South Atlantic League Northern division.

The game began just like any normal shootout with five runs between the BlueClaws and the Power (13-25) in the first one and a half innings. However after that the game calmed down and became a pitchers duel.

The BlueClaws got on the board in the first with two runs. One came off back-to-back doubles to lead off the game by Harold Garcia and Anthony Gose and the other on a Jim Murphy RBI single.

However, the Power struck right back with two in the bottom of the inning as Robbie Grossman led the game off with a walk and he scored as Chase d’Arnaud, Travis d’Arnaud’s brother, tripled to deep center field. He would then score on a double by Calvin Anderson to tie the game up at two in the bottom of the first.

The BlueClaws then regained the lead in the second as Sebastian Valled doubled to lead off the inning and then scored on a single by Leandro Castro to give the BlueClaws the 3-2 lead that they would hold that lead until the ninth inning.

In the ninth, the BlueClaws got an important insurance run as Travis Mattair reached and was singled home by Jeremy Hamilton who was pinch-hitting for Castro. The run gave the BlueClaws a 4-2 lead before BJ Rosenberg worked a 1-2-3 inning to slam the door shut in the ninth.

Knapp struggled to find the zone and only went 3.2 innings, allowing two runs while walking five batters and striking out five. He was relieved by Santo Hernandez (2-1) who continues to pitch a lot of innings at a time and bail out the BlueClaws. He went 4.1 innings, striking out four and allowing just two baserunners. With BJ Rosenberg closing out the game in the ninth, Hernandez got a well-deserved second win of the season. The save was the fifth for Rosenberg on the season, tying him with Ryan Bergh.

After a rough start, Power starting pitcher Duke Welker (0-5) ended up going six innings. He allowed eight hits and three runs, but settled down nicely after the second inning. The six-foot-seven righty then gave way to Brian Leach who worked a clean seventh and eight before running into trouble in the ninth.

The win puts the BlueClaws at 4-2 so far on this eight-game road trip and at seven games over .500 for the first time this season.

The BlueClaws look to clinch an over-.500 road trip on Wednesday at 7:05 in game three of their four game series with the Power. The BlueClaws will call on Heitor Correa (0-1) to do the deed, coming off an impressive seven-inning one-run performance. He will be opposed by lefty Rudy Owens (4-1).

Charleston, WV – In an offensive explosion, the Lakewood BlueClaws belted eight extra base hits and scored nine runs in a 9-2 thumping of the West Virginia Power in game one of their four game series on Monday night.

The BlueClaws (21-15) and Sebastian Valle set the tone early on against the Power (13-24) in what would be a display of power, appropriately enough in Appalachian Power Park. With Travis d’Arnaud on first, Valle hit his first home run of the season off the scoreboard in left center field. That made it a 2-0 game.

The BlueClaws added a run on an Anthony Gose triple in the third as he brought home Harold Garcia, on second after a double to take a 3-0 lead. They were not even close to being done yet.

In the fifth, the BlueClaws greatly extended their advantage as Jeremy Hamilton blasted his first home run of the season, a two-run shot and the second time the BlueClaws had hit two home runs in the same game, and two runs also came home on a double by Troy Hanzawa. The four runs made it a 7-0 lead for the BlueClaws as they took complete control of the Power, winners of their last four games in a row.

In the sixth, The BlueClaws added two more runs as Garcia hit his second double of the game, Gose reached on an error; d’Arnaud hit a sacrifice fly, and Travis Mattair Doubled. At 9-0 this was the largest lead of the season for the BlueClaws held so far this season.

The Power added single runs in the sixth and ninth innings but hardly threatened the BlueClaws lead throughout the game.

Of the BlueClaws nine hits, eight were for extra bases as they batted for the cycle in the game as a team with five doubles, a triple and two home runs. Garcia and Hanzawa each had two doubles and Valle had a home run and a single.

Not to be overlooked was the pitching of Tyler Cloyd (4-2) who has been very reliable for the BlueClaws this season. He has now won three straight and went seven innings, allowing one run and eight strikeouts. Cloyd did not walk a batter and has only walked one batter in his last 35 innings. Ryan Ariail pitched a clean eighth inning and Jacob Diekman pitched the ninth, allowing a solo home run to Bobby Spain.

Maurice Bankston (1-4) picked up his fourth loss of the season as he was wild early and allowed seven hits and seven runs in five innings. He was relieved by Ryan Kelly in the sixth, who allowed two unearned runs in three innings and Alan Knotts closed the game out.

With the win, the BlueClaws will remain at least 1.5 games ahead of the rest of the South Atlantic League Northern Division in what was the 36^th game of 70 to be played in the first half.

Game two of the series on Tuesday at 7:05 pm will feature the BlueClaws righty and single-game strikeout record holder Jason Knapp (2-3) as the BlueClaws look to go to seven games over .500 for the first time this season. The Power will counter with lefty Rudy Owens, who has an impressive 4-1 record on a team with 24 losses.

KANNAPOLIS, NC – The Lakewood BlueClaws trailed at three different points of the contest against the Kannapolis Intimidators but with five runs in three innings, the BlueClaws (20-15) came back to earn a split in the four game series with a 5-4 victory.

The game was a sea-saw battle with both teams trailing and taking the lead at different points in the ballgame. The Intimidators (18-18) took the lead initially in the bottom of the third inning as Tyler Kuhn hit a sacrifice fly bringing Eduardo Escobar home for the 1-0 lead.

The BlueClaws fired back with a run in the fifth to tie the game at one as Troy Hanzawa singled to lead the inning off and he was eventually brought home on a Leandro Castro RBI groundout.

The Intimidators took the lead again 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning before the BlueClaws struck for two in the top of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead. Korby Mintken singled to start the inning and Sebastian Valle drove a double to the wall scoring Mintken before being brought home by a Travis Mattair single.

It was then the Intimidators turn to score two as they got to both starter Jon Velasquez and reliever Justin De Fratus in the bottom of the inning. Off of Velasquez, Sergio Morales and Jon Gilmore singled and John Curtis walked. De Fratus then came on to allow two more singles and the lead to be turned into a deficit 4-3.

However, in the very next inning, the BlueClaws tied the game with Harold Garcia bringing home Castro after he doubled and took the lead with a Mintken double, bringing home Garcia. The runs game the BlueClaws the 5-4 lead in the seventh inning.

Velasquez started the game for the BlueClaws and went 5.1 innings allowing seven hits and three earned runs. He also walked two and struck out two. In the sixth, De Fratus (1-0) came on and pitched 2.2 innings and did not allow a run. Ryan Bergh was called upon for the save and he got the Intimidators down in order for his fifth save of the season.

The Intimidators starter Justin Edwards went six full innings and allowed eight hits and three runs. Adam Bowling (0-1) came on in the seventh and only recorded one out while allowing three hits and two runs to score. He was relieved by Charlis Burdie and Leroy Hunt who pitched the last 2.2 and kept the BlueClaws off the board. 

Four games through the BlueClaws 24 games in 24 days they will travel to West Virginia to play the West Virginia Power for the first time this season and the first time in what will be eight games over the next two weeks. To start the series, the BlueClaws will send Tyler Cloyd (3-2) to the mound for the 7:05 pm start and he will be opposed by six-foot-seven righty Duke Welker (0-4).

KANNAPOLIS, NC – In what was a back and forth game, the Kannapolis Intimidators got their breakthrough in the seventh inning as they got past the Lakewood BlueClaws by the score of 7-2.

As they have all season long, the BlueClaws (19-15) have been getting out to leads only to have the game tied a few innings later. In the first, the BlueClaws took a 1-0 as Harold Garcia singled and stole second before being batted in by a Travis d’Arnaud double.

The Intimidators (18-17) came right back in the bottom of the second as Zach Larson hit a double with Jon Gilmore on first and the game was 1-1. The teams would then trade solo home runs as Garcia led the third off with his second blast of the season and Sergio Morales hit a round-tripper to lead off the fourth. The game would then stay tied at two until the seventh inning.

In relief of starter Jesus Sanchez, Santo Hernandez (1-1) came on in the bottom of the seventh and that’s when the Intimidators did some damage. Jordan Cheatham singled to lead off the inning and then another single by Justin Greene put two runners on the bases for Eduardo Escobar. With the infield in, Escobar hit the ball right between the legs of BlueClaws first baseman Jim Murphy for the first error and then a wild flip from Garcia accounted for another error as two runs scored. Drew Garcia singled home another run and the game was blown open 5-2.

The Intimidators would then add two more runs in the eighth off Esmelvin Jiminez and they racked up a season-high 14 hits in the game.

Sanchez worked well in just his seventh start as a professional. He set a career high, going six innings, allowing just two runs and striking out seven. He has now had back-to-back good outings for the second time this season. Hernandez came on to work the seventh and Jiminez the eighth.

In his second start against the BlueClaws this season, Dexter Carter was again effective in his six innings of work where he allowed seven hits and two runs while striking out eleven batters. Tyson Corley (2-0) then worked the seventh, Leroy Hunt the eighth and Dan Remenowsky a clean ninth.  

Despite the loss, the BlueClaws will remain in sole possession of first place in the South Atlantic League Northern division because the game involving the second-place Delmarva Shorebirds was postponed due to rain.

With Kannapolis taking a 2-1 advantage in the four game series, the BlueClaws look for the split on Sunday at 5:05 pm. They will send Jon Velasquez (5-1) to the mound again in search of what has been an elusive sixth victory. He will be opposed by lefty Justin Edwards (1-1).

KANNAPOLIS, NC – Down to their last out, the Lakewood BlueClaws final hope was Jim Murphy and he produced in a big way. With Harold Garcia on first, Murphy stroked a two-run home run down the line which pushed the BlueClaws (19-14) past the Kannapolis Intimidators 3-2 on Friday night. The win is the fourth in five games for Lakewood.

The story line through the first seven innings was the pitching of Intimidators (17-17) starter Charles Leesman as he had sent down 20 straight batters to start the game. His perfect game was broken up with two outs in the seventh as Travis d’Arnaud singled to center. Leesman ended up going 7.2 innings, allowing just the one hit and no earned runs in the no decision. He also struck out nine batters.

The Intimidators got on the board in the sixth as Tyler Kuhn doubled in Drew Garcia to take the lead on BlueClaws starter Heitor Correa, 1-0. Correa pitched a fantastic game, overshadowed by his counterpart. He went seven innings, allowing just four hits and one run while fanning three.

The BlueClaws countered with a run in the eighth as Troy Hanzawa hit an infield single and Sebastian Valle never stopped running from where he started at second base. The catcher dropped the ball at a play at the plate and Valle was safe. The Intimidators, however, came back with a run of their own off BJ Rosenberg in the eighth and regained the lead 2-1.

With the lead in the ninth, the Intimidators kept Charlis Burdie (1-3) in the game to close the game out in the ninth and he walked Harold Garcia to start the inning. After a failed bunt by Anthony Gose and a pop out by d’Arnaud, Murphy batted with two-out. Murphy took the Burdie offering down the line in left field and the only debate was if the ball would stay fair. It did and the BlueClaws took a 3-2 lead that Rosenberg (3-1) would eventually hold in the bottom half of the inning.

The BlueClaws have now won four of their last five games and are back at a season-high five games over .500. With the win, the BlueClaws could be in first place by themselves by tomorrow based on results from around the league.

The BlueClaws will look to move to six games over .500 on Saturday night at 7:05 as they will send Jesus Sanchez (1-2) to the mound in search of his second career victory. Sanchez is coming off five strong innings at home against Hickory. He will be opposed by Dexter Carter (1-1).

KANNAPOLIS, NC - An error in the eighth inning opens the gates for the Kannapolis Intimidators in a 1- 1 game and compounds the lack of hitting all night for the Lakewood BlueClaws in a 4-1 loss on Thursday night.

In a 1-1 game in the bottom of the eighth, Eduardo Escobar doubled to lead off the inning and then scored on a catching error by Harold Garcia as the Intimidators (17-16) bunted with the next batter. The throw from pitcher Ryan Bergh was low, but should have been handled and then the flood gates opened and three runs came in to score.

The BlueClaws (18-14) got on the board early as Jeremy Hamilton singled in Travis Mattair in the second inning, but the Intimidators came right back and scored in the forth to tie things up. The game would then stay tied until the eighth inning.

Jason Knapp was the starter for the BlueClaws and he went five strong innings allowing one run and striking out nine in the no decision. The BlueClaws are now 2-5 when their ace starts a game, mostly because of the lack of run support he gets. Justin De Fratus then worked two innings and struck out four without allowing a run and Bergh (2-2) came on for the eighth and picked up the loss and allowed the three runs.

For the Intimidators, converted reliever Stephen Sauer started the game and was again effective, going five innings, recording eight strikeouts. The Bullpen of Drew O''Neil, Nate Jones (2-0) and Dan Remenowsky then came on and worked four innings while striking out nine to seal the victory for the Intimidators.

The BlueClaws went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and also struck out a season-high 17 times on the game.

The BlueClaws, off to a sour note on their run of 24 games in 24 days, will play game two of their series on Friday at 7:05 and will look to Heitor Correa (0-1) to right the ship again. He is coming off a nice start at home, but he struggled on the road in his first start. The Intimidators will counter with Charlie Leesman (3- 2).

LAKEWOOD, NJ – Anthony Gose had been winning games with his legs, the league leader in steals, but he smacked a three-run home run in the fourth to break a tie and help the Lakewood BlueClaws beat the Hickory Crawdads 8-3.

The BlueClaws (18-13) got out to a lead once again against the Crawdads (16-16) in the first inning as Travis d’Arnaud singled home Harold Garcia to give the BlueClaws a 1-0 lead. The BlueClaws extended their advantage after Sebastian Valle and Troy Hanzawa singled to begin the second inning and D’Arby Myers sacrificed them over into scoring position before Garcia doubled both runners in to make it 3-0.

However, much like in days past, the Crawdads came back and scored three runs on starter Tyler Cloyd in the third as he allowed three hits, all singles except for a lead-off dou