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Jersey Shore BlueClaws

Pujols' Grand Slam Pushes Claws to 9-1 Win

June 18, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release


LAKEWOOD, NJ - Jose Pujols hit a grand slam as part of a five-run fourth inning and Luke Leftwich fanned eight over five scoreless innings as the BlueClaws coasted to a 9-1 win over Kannapolis on Saturday night at FirstEnergy Park.

Lakewood (29-39) has taken two of the first three from Kannapolis (23-46) in the series with the first-half finale on Sunday afternoon.

Pujols' grand slam, which also tied him for the league-lead with 12 home runs, was the first by a BlueClaw since Deivi Grullon on 8/30/2015 at Greensboro.

Meanwhile, Leftwich was dominant again for the BlueClaws. Leftwich, named an All-Star on Friday, threw five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. In his last three starts, he's thrown 20 scoreless innings with no walks and 27 strikeouts. He heads to the break with an ERA of 2.00 and leads the league with 88 strikeouts this season.

The BlueClaws struck for two quick runs in the first inning. Zach Coppola singled and Jiandido Tromp doubled to start the game. A groundout by Josh Tobias drove in one run and Damek Tomscha's RBI double drove in the second run to put the BlueClaws up 2-0.

In the fourth, Deivi Grullon drove a fastball to the opposite field, doubling off the right-centerfield wall to drive in two runs and give the BlueClaws a 4-0 lead.

Then, the BlueClaws scored five times in the bottom of the fourth to blow open the game. A Josh Tobias SAC fly put the BlueClaws up 6-0 before the big blow - the Pujols grand slam. For Pujols it was his 12th home run of the year and second in as many nights.

Eight of the nine BlueClaws had hits including three by Zach Coppola and two by Deivi Grullon.

Skylar Hunter threw two scoreless innings in relief and Sutter McLoughlin gave up one run in two innings.

The series with Kannapolis, and the first-half of the season, wrap-up on Sunday afternoon at 1:05. LHP Tyler Gilbert (3-6) starts for Lakewood against LHP Jonathan Frebis (4-5).

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