SAL1 Jersey Shore BlueClaws

BlueClaws Almost Complete Miracle Comeback

Published on July 16, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release


LAKEWOOD, NJ - Despite nine straight runs for the Lakewood BlueClaws, their attempt to reverse a ten-run deficit came up just short. The Bowling Green Hot Rods held on 14-11 in an offensive explosion at FirstEnergy Park on Thursday night.

The BlueClaws (11-10) got the game's first run in the first as Anthony Gose reached on an error and stole his fiftieth bag of the season to get in scoring position for Harold Garcia. Garcia singled and it was 1-0 BlueClaws.

The lead was short-lived however, as the Bowling Green Hot Rods (13-7) began their barrage against starter Justin De Fratus (3-3). In the second, the Hot Rods got a single from Kyeong Kang and a double by Isaias Velasquez before an RBI-single from Mike Sheridan. De Fratus then got two outs, a pop up and a sacrifice fly before three straight hits, a single, a three-run triple by Anthony Scelfo and a single by Tim Beckham plated the fifth run of the inning. However, the runs did not stop there.

In the third, off of De Fratus, the Hot Rods added four runs on two big swings. Kang hit a solo home run and Jason Corder hit a three-run home run for a four-run inning and a 9-1 lead.

That would be it for De Fratus, in total, he went four innings and allowed nine runs, all earned on nine hits.

The lead was extended to a game-high ten as the BlueClaws plated a run in the fourth, but the Hot Rods added a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to make it 12-2. Then the BlueClaws bats woke up in a big way.

In the bottom of the seventh, Gose led the inning off getting hit by a pitch thrown by relief pitcher Michael Jarman. Harold Garcia then walked before Travis d'Arnaud hit an RBI-single. Jim Murphy then struck out before a walk to Hamilton loaded the bases and with two outs Zach Collier stepped to the plate. Collier hit his second extra base hit of the season, a bases-clearing triple down the line in right to make it 12-6. Then, Vladimir De Los Santos sent a deep fly ball to left-center, outfielders Kang and Scelfo collided and in doing so, allowed De Los Santos to round the bases for an inside-the-park home run and a six-run inning. At this point, the score was 12-8.

In the eighth, with two runners on, Jeremy Hamilton hit his third home run of the season, making it a 12-11 ballgame. The BlueClaws had scored nine runs in a row.

In the ninth, off of Ryan Bergh, Isaias Velasquez singled and Mike Sheridan hit a deflating two-run home run to make it 14-11 ending the BlueClaws chances at a miracle comeback.

Joseph Cruz (4-4) got the win for the Hot Rods, he went six strong innings and allowed one earned run.

Both teams combined for 31 hits and 25 runs. For Lakewood, d'Arnaud went 4-for-5 and Garcia had three hits. The BlueClaws are now 0-6 in attempts to go to 19 games above .500 on the season.

This was the final game of the season and, unless the BlueClaws meet the Hot Rods in the SAL Championship, the final game ever between these two teams. The Hot Rods will be going to the Midwest League next season.

The BlueClaws will open a four-game series on Friday night at 7:05 pm against the Lexington Legends at FirstEnergy Park. The BlueClaws will look to Freddy Ballestas (0-0) in a spot start and the Legends will counter with righty Ross Seaton (6-8).

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 16, 2009


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