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Blue Claws Fall to Imtimidators

May 6, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release


LAKEWOOD, NJ - For the fifth time, the Lakewood BlueClaws fail in their attempt to go five games over .500 as they were down early and the Kannapolis Intimidators put them away in a 9-3 thrashing at FirstEnergy Park.

The Intimidators (14-11), got out to an early 2-0 lead off of starter Jon Velasquez who lost his first game as a professional. The hitting did not stop there as the Intimidators racked up 13 hits and a season-high nine runs. The Intimidators have set season highs in runs in back-to-back games in the series.

It was a lot of hard hit balls for the Intimidators who based triples in both the first and second innings to go along with two doubles and a home run. Drew Garcia, who made the error to extend last night's game, tripled in his first at-bat, homered in his third at-bat and doubled in his fourth at-bat. In his fifth at-bat, a bid for the cycle, Garcia grounded out to first.

The BlueClaws (14-11) were held at bay all day long by the Kannapolis pitching staff that ranks in the top of the league in many of the major statistical categories. Justin Edwards (1-0), on the two-year anniversary of Tommy Johns surgery pitched five innings, allowing only an unearned run in the first and one hit. He struck out nine in a fantastic return to baseball after a two-year hiatus due to injury. Drew O'Neil pitched two shutout innings in relief before giving way to Leroy Hunt, who allowed a run in the eighth.

The BlueClaws only recorded five hits on the day and three runs, one of which was earned. Jesus Villegas kept his hot hitting up as he singled twice and batted in his tenth run of the season, ranking him third on the team in that category. Jim Murphy and Troy Hanzawa both recorded doubles.

Velasquez had his first rough outing as the Intimidators hit him hard from the onset of the game. He ended up going five innings, allowing eleven hits and nine runs, boosting his ERA nearly three runs in the loss. Santo Hernandez came on in relief and worked the remaining four innings as he did not allow a run.

The BlueClaws and Intimidators will play game three of a four game series on Wednesday night at 6:35 in what is a battle of skilled pitchers for both teams. The BlueClaws will send Opening Day starter Tyler Cloyd to the mound (1-2) and he will be opposed by Greg Infante (2-0).


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