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Jersey Shore BlueClaws

Lakewood Gets by Greenville, Snaps Skid

July 26, 2013 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release


LAKEWOOD, NJ - The Lakewood BlueClaws (15-19/41-60) rallied for five in the fifth and held on late to down the Greenville Drive (17-15/39-62) 7-6 Friday night at FirstEnergy Park. The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Claws and marked the fourth win in a row by one-run.

The Claws entered the fifth inning trailing 4-2, but bounced back to plate five runs in the frame, and took a 7-4 lead into the sixth. Chace Numata and Angelo Mora began the inning with back-to-back walks against the Frank Montas, the Drive's starter.

Carlos Tocci was next and ripped a line drive up the middle, off of the pitcher's throwing arm and loaded the bases with no outs. Montas' night came to and end as he left with an injury and gave way to Yunior Ortega.

The righty retired the first hitter he faced on a line out to the shortstop, but Willie Carmona singled home the first run and pulled the Claws to within one. Ortega faced Art Charles next, and the first baseman laced a double down the line in right and drove home two, giving Lakewood their first lead of the game. Mitch Walding capped off the inning with an RBI single to right and plated Charles from third.

Geoff Broussard was the first out of the bullpen for the BlueClaws and labored in the sixth, his first inning of work. With two down, Kendrick Perkins flared a fly ball down the left field line and rang the foul pole for what was initially ruled a solo home run.

Mickey Morandini stepped out to argue and won the bout, as the ball hit below the fence and Perkins was ordered back to second. Perkins then stole third and scored on Boss Moanaroa's single to right and made it 7-5 in favor of Lakewood.

Broussard finished three innings and allowed just the one run on five hits, he hit a batter and struck out three before Zach Cooper took over in the ninth. Cooper walked the leadoff man, induced a fielder's choice off the bat of Jose Vinicio for the first out.

The speedy shortstop stole second and came around to score on Tim Roberson's single to left to make it 7-6 in the ninth. After Roberson was lifted for a pinch runner, Cooper induced a double play ball off the bat of Mario Martinez and the BlueClaws spun the 5-4-3 twin killing to end the game.

Miguel Nunez started the game on the mound for the BlueClaws, but struggled out of the gate. The burly righty gave up a run on two hits in the first, and followed with three runs allowed on three hits in the second before he figured things out and turned his outing around.

Nunez (8-7) settled in after the third and retired the side in the third and fourth innings, and just allowed a single in his fifth and final frame. Cooper earned his second save of the season with his work in the ninth and Montas dropped to 2-9 with the loss.

The Claws began their comeback with a run in the third on an RBI groundout off the bat of Angelo Mora, which cut it to 4-1. Art Charles hit a double with one out in the fourth and came around to score on Alejandro Villalobos single to make it 4-2 before the five run fifth.

Deborah Heart and Lung Center Player of the Game: Art Charles (LWD): 2-4, 2 2B, 2R, 2 RBI

The BlueClaws and Drive will return to FirstEnergy Park and do battle in game three of a four-game set Saturday night at 7:05PM. RHP Nic Hanson (2-2, 2.76) gets the nod and looks for his fourth great start in a row since coming off the DL. LHP Brian Johnson (1-4, 3.64) will get the nod for the Drive.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 26, 2013


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