Almanzar's Slump-Busting Walk-Off Tops Claws, 3-2
August 4, 2010 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release
GREENVILLE, SC - Greenville outfielder Michael Almanzar came into Wednesday night's game against the BlueClaws mired in an 0-32 slump.
Yet it was Almanzar who led off the bottom of the eleventh inning with a solo shot off Joe Esposito (1-1) to lift the Drive (23-16) to their second 3-2 win in a row.
It was Almanzar's sixth home run of the season, and his second crucial hit of the ballgame. With his team trailing by one in the fourth Almazar doubled in a run to tie the game off Lakewood (24-15) starter Colby Shreve.
It was the only run Shreve allowed through five innings. Reliever Julio Rodriguez came in for Shreve and chipped in four solid innings out of the pen, striking out six.
The Drive took a 2-1 lead in the seventh against Rodriguez on a run-scoring single by Christian Vasquez, only to have Lakewood answer right back in the eighth.
Keoni Ruth doubled to start the inning and came around to score on a Jonathan Singleton liner that snuck under the glove of shortstop Derrik Gibson for an error.
The score stayed tied until Almanzar's heroics in extras.
The BlueClaws got on the board first in the second, as Valle hit his 14th home run of the season, a solo shot that made it 1-0.
It was Valle's fifth blast in his last nine games, and third straight day with a homer.
Thursday night at 7:00 pm RHP Jonathan Pettibone (4-5, 3.97) will get the start for the Claws as Lakewood looks for a series split.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 4, 2010
- Almanzar Sends Drive Home Victorious, 3-2 - Greenville Drive
- 'Dads Comeback Falls Short Against Asheville, 3-2 - Hickory Crawdads
- Almanzar's Slump-Busting Walk-Off Tops Claws, 3-2 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Four-Run Fifth Dooms Augusta in 8-2 Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
- Garrett Mock, Suns Shut out Legends 2-0 - Hagerstown Suns
- Intimidators Win Three Straight, 4-2 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Legends Shut out by Nationals' Mock, Three Relievers - Lexington Legends
- Ramirez Dominates, Dogs Bark Back with 8-2 Win - Charleston RiverDogs
- Power Game Postponed - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Shorebirds and Power Postponed on Wednesday Night - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Legends' Goebbert named South Atlantic League Player of the Week - Lexington Legends
- Weaver Homer Propels Braves - Rome Emperors
- Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Historical Replica Giveaway Saturday, August 7th - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest Comes to Riley Park on Aug. 8 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Sand Gnats And Braves Game Day - Savannah Sand Gnats
- RiverDogs Pull Away Late, Defeat Jackets 8-4 - Augusta GreenJackets
- Crawdads to hold Haynesworth Conditioning Challenge this Thursday - Hickory Crawdads
- RiverDogs Pull Away Late, Defeat Jackets 8-4 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Dominguez's Walkoff HR Ends 15-Inning Marathon, 5-4 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Leon's homer, three unearned runs send Suns past Legends, 8-5 - Lexington Legends
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
