Sanchez Goes Seven, Dominates in Win
Published on July 24, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release
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 31st 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).
South Atlantic League Stories from July 24, 2009
- First Inning Dooms Drive for Second Straight Night - Greenville Drive
- Ortiz Becomes R'Dogs Saves King as Charleston Squeezes Greensboro, 5-4 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Bittersweet Night for Fans as Hot Rods Fall 8-0 to Sun - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Captains Top Legends 7-3 - Lexington Legends
- Suns to Hot for Bowling Green - Hagerstown Suns
- Braves Hang on for 4-2 Win Against Crawdads - Hickory Crawdads
- Tourists Can't Crack BlueClaws - Asheville Tourists
- Home Runs Do the Trick in 8-7 Comback Win Against GreenJackets - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Clutch Hits Pace Power to Win - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Late Homers Bite Augusta - Augusta GreenJackets
- Sanchez Goes Seven, Dominates in Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Grasshoppers to Bring Holiday Spirit to Newbridge Bank Park - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Hoppers' Bats Catch Fire to Outslug Riverdogs 11-10 - Greensboro Grasshoppers
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