BlueClaws Close August with Fourth Straight Win

August 31, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release

GREENSBORO, NC - The BlueClaws held off Greensboro 5-3 on Monday night at NewBridge Bank Park to win their fourth straight game and get to seven games over .500 for the first time this year.

Matt Hockenberry got the last three outs for his 18th save of the season (and third in the four-game win streak) as the BlueClaws have now won the first three games of the five-game series in Greensboro.

The BlueClaws took the lead in the sixth inning on an RBI by Herlis Rodriguez and would add a run in the seventh before turning it over to Jason Zgardowski (two scoreless) and Hockenberry. Austin Davis gave up three runs in six innings to earn the win.

The BlueClaws have now won four straight games, tying their season long win streak, and at 36-27/69-62, they are nine games over .500 in the second half and seven games over .500 for the season for the first time this year.

The BlueClaws jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of first inning runs, one on an RBI single by Deivi Grullon and another on a SAC fly by Cord Sandberg.

The lead, however, was short-lived, as Greensboro got a two-run home run from Taylor Munden (2nd) in the second inning to tie the game.

The teams exchanged home runs to keep the game tied - Grullon (8th) went deep in the third for the BlueClaws, his second home run in as many days, and then Austen Smith (16th) tied the game with a solo home run in the fourth for Greensboro.

The BlueClaws would re-claim the lead in the sixth when, with two out, Emmanuel Marrero drew a walk from starter Gabriel Castellanos. James Buckalew came in and an errant pick-off throw moved Marrero to second and he came in to score on Herlis Rodriguez's RBI single. Lakewood added another urn in the seventh on a SAC fly by Jiandido Tromp.

Austin Davis gave up three runs in six innings to earn the win and improve to 5-5 on the year. Jason Zgardowski struck out six over scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth despite putting five men on base in those two frames.

Herlis Rodriguez, Drew Stankiewicz, and Deivi Grullon (who also homered) had two hits in the win for the BlueClaws.  

The series with Greensboro continues on Tuesday night at 7:00. RHP Jairo Munoz (1-0) starts for Lakewood against RHP Enderson Franco (1-4).

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 31, 2015

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• Simon Leads Intimidators Rally to Dim Suns - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• BlueClaws Close August with Fourth Straight Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
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• Rome Over Greenville 6-3 - Rome Emperors
• Power Toppled by Lexington 8-1 - Charleston Dirty Birds
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• Former Wildcat Reed, Former Cardinal Duvall Among Leaders for Joe Bauman Award - Lexington Legends
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