SAL1 Jersey Shore BlueClaws

BlueClaws Bats, Shutout Pitching Earn Third Straight Win

April 24, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release


LAKEWOOD, NJ - When Jon Velasquez pitches, the Lakewood BlueClaws win. This statement rang true on Friday as the BlueClaws (9-6) tossed their first shutout of the season in a dominant, well-played 6-0 defeat of the Hagerstown Suns. The BlueClaws hitters racked up 14 hits.

The BlueClaws bats had been silent at FirstEnergy Park this season until the Suns (5-8) came to town. For the second straight game, the BlueClaws scored six runs and the runs began in the very first inning. Harold Garcia led the game off with one of his two triples in the game. He would then score on a double off the bat of Travis d'Arnaud. The BlueClaws added one more run in the first as Sebastian Valle singled d'Arnaud home.

The BlueClaws were not done as they added three more runs in the fifth inning. Garcia scored from third on a groundout before d'Arnaud hit his second home run of the season to make it 4-0. Zach Collier singled and stole second, advanced to third on an error and scored on a single by Villegas to make it 5-0. Villegas had three hits on the day.

The BlueClaws added another run in the seventh on another Villegas RBI single as the BlueClaws cruised to the victory.

In his first professional start, Velasquez (4-0) went five innings, allowing just two hits and no runs to pick up his league-leading fourth win of the season. He is the only BlueClaws pitcher to have more than one win. He was relieved by Justin De Fratus who worked five strikeouts in three innings. Esmelvin Jiminez came in to close the game in a non-save situation.

Terence Engles (0-1) started the game for the Suns and was ineffective early as he allowed three hard hit balls in the game's first inning and went 4.2 total, allowing five runs while striking out eight. Justin Phillabaum and Patrick Arnold came in relief and allowed one more run in the game combined.

The BlueClaws will look for their first sweep of the season on Saturday at 4:05 in the third game against the Hagerstown Suns in the series. The BlueClaws will send Tyler Cloyd to the mound for his fourth start of the season and the Suns will counter with Ricardo Pecina.

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 24, 2009


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