Stutes pitches BlueClaws to 2-1 win over Hagerstown
Published on August 28, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release
LAKEWOOD, N.J. - The BlueClaws kept their playoff hopes afloat on Thursday night by beating Hagerstown 2-1 behind an excellent start from Mike Stutes at FirstEnergy Park.
Stutes, who was roughed up to the tune of four runs in 4 2/3 innings in his last start at Lake County, was back on form in his final start of the regular season. The right-hander did not allow a run and struck out nine in six innings. Stutes will finish the regular season 5-1 in his seven starts with Lakewood, striking out 53 batters in 42 2/3 innings.
Zack Sterner carried the shutout through the seventh and eighth innings. The steady reliever gave up two hits, but was never threatened and struck out three. Jared Simon gave up a run in the ninth, but nothing more, to close out the win and earn his franchise-best 29th save of the season.
The win, coupled with a rainout in West Virginia, moved the BlueClaws within 3 ½ games of the Power. Lakewood (40-26, 78-58) has four games remaining in the regular season, while the Power have five to go, all at home against Kannapolis.
Lakewood put the Suns in a hole in the fourth inning. Tim Kennelly came home on an Ozzie Rodriguez wild pitch to make it a 1-0 Lakewood lead. That was the only run the BlueClaws managed against Martinez (1- 2), who gave up six hits in six innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out three.
The BlueClaws extended their lead in the seventh with a run off of Hagerstown's top reliever, Dan Leatherman. Derrick Mitchell drove in Travis Mattair with his 32nd double of the season. Mattiar had a big day, picking up three of Lakewood's nine hits on the game.
The Suns (24-42, 58-77) finally got on the board in the ninth off of Simon thanks to a pair of base hits. It was the first time in the game that Hagerstown was able to pick up multiple hits in the same inning, as a Garrett Bass single scored Blake Stouffer from second to break up the clean sheet.
The BlueClaws have just one game remaining at FirstEnergy Park in the regular season. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with Mike Cisco (2-1) starting for the BlueClaws and Cole Kimball (6-8) making his sixth start of the season against Lakewood.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early, as the Principal Family Fun Fest will begin at FirstEnergy Park at 4:00 p.m. There will also be post-game fireworks following the final out, presented by Toyota and Scion World of Lakewood.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 28, 2008
- Suns lose pitcher's duel - Hagerstown Suns
- Dogs Bite Braves - Rome Emperors
- Captains Drop Two to Delmarva - Lake County Captains
- Tourists Rack Up 16 Hits in 11-1 Win Over Drive - Greenville Drive
- Power rained out - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Birthday Blasts Lead Hoppers Past Lexington - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Legends Lose Big, 13-2 - Lexington Legends
- Stutes pitches BlueClaws to 2-1 win over Hagerstown - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Crawdads offense stagnant in loss - Hickory Crawdads
- Jackets Win SAL Second-Half Southern Division Title - Augusta GreenJackets
- Birds sweep double header - Delmarva Shorebirds
- BlueClaws reach 400,000 fans for eighth straight season - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- GreenJackets Set to Break 200,000 in Attendance - Augusta GreenJackets
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