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SAL1 Jersey Shore BlueClaws

BlueClaws Hold On 7-5

July 10, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release


KANNAPOLIS, NC - For the third straight game in the series the Kannapolis Intimidators score against the Lakewood BlueClaws bullpen, but for the second time in the series, the BlueClaws hold on for a 7-5 victory.

For the first time in four days, the BlueClaws (9-7) do not score first as the Intimidators take an early 1-0 run as they had two doubles off of starter Justin De Fratus in the first.

The BlueClaws then battled back in the third as Harold Garcia reached on an infield single and was on second base for Travis d'Arnaud. With one swing, d'Arnaud tied Jim Murphy for the team lead in home runs as he sent a majestic blast to left field to give the BlueClaws a 2-1 lead.

The BlueClaws added to their lead in the fourth as Travis Mattair walked and stole second, which was important because Troy Hanzawa then hit a ground- rule double, scoring Mattair for a 3-1 lead.

The Intimidators (9-6) got a second run, but the BlueClaws would add three more in the fifth. In that inning, Garcia singled before Korby Mintken walked to put two on with no one out. The next batter d'Arnaud walked to load the bases for Murphy who would unload them with one swing. Murphy hit a deep fly ball to right, scoring everyone on base and giving the BlueClaws a 6-2 lead.

However, for the third straight game, the Intimidators would mount a comeback. This time in the sixth inning instead of the seventh, the Intimidators got a runner on reaching on an error, before Brandon Short singled to put two men on with one out. De Fratus exited the game in favor of Jacob Diekman, but the hits kept coming. Eduardo Escobar singled to bring in a run before Justin Greene walked to load the bases. After an RBI ground out, Luis Sierra singled Escobar home for the third run of the inning and it made the game much closer at 6-5.

In the ninth, the BlueClaws got some insurance as they got two runners on before Jeremy Hamilton doubled to make it 7-5.

In his third start of the season, De Fratus (3-2) would fare much better. He ended up going an out into the fifth allowing just two earned runs. He picked up his third win of the season. Rob Roth pitched a clean inning in the seventh before BJ Rosenberg provided another six out save, his team leading 14th.

Jimmy Ballinger (0-2), in his second start for the Intimidators this season, only lasted four innings as he allowed six runs, all earned. He only allowed four hits, but walked three in the loss. Ballinger left with the bases loaded in the fifth and Charlis Burdie allowed the three-run double to Murphy.

The BlueClaws are back to 18 games above .500, the best mark of the season. In the game, Hamilton went 1-for-5 and doubled in his final at-bat to extend his league-long on-base streak to 32 games.

The BlueClaws and Intimidators will wrap up their four game series on Saturday at 7:05 pm. The game will be the conclusion of an eight-game road trip, in which the BlueClaws look to end above .500. The BlueClaws will send their ace Jason Knapp (2-6) to the mound and he will be opposed by righty Stephen Sauer (4-3).

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