BlueClaws Light Up Power, 9-2
Published on May 18, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release
Charleston, WV - In an offensive explosion, the Lakewood BlueClaws belted eight extra base hits and scored nine runs in a 9-2 thumping of the West Virginia Power in game one of their four game series on Monday night.
The BlueClaws (21-15) and Sebastian Valle set the tone early on against the Power (13-24) in what would be a display of power, appropriately enough in Appalachian Power Park. With Travis d'Arnaud on first, Valle hit his first home run of the season off the scoreboard in left center field. That made it a 2-0 game.
The BlueClaws added a run on an Anthony Gose triple in the third as he brought home Harold Garcia, on second after a double to take a 3-0 lead. They were not even close to being done yet.
In the fifth, the BlueClaws greatly extended their advantage as Jeremy Hamilton blasted his first home run of the season, a two-run shot and the second time the BlueClaws had hit two home runs in the same game, and two runs also came home on a double by Troy Hanzawa. The four runs made it a 7-0 lead for the BlueClaws as they took complete control of the Power, winners of their last four games in a row.
In the sixth, The BlueClaws added two more runs as Gracia hit his second double of the game, Gose reached on an error; d'Arnaud hit a sacrifice fly, and Travis Mattair Doubled. At 9-0 this was the largest lead of the season for the BlueClaws held so far this season.
The Power added single runs in the sixth and ninth innings but hardly threatened the BlueClaws lead throughout the game.
Of the BlueClaws nine hits, eight were for extra bases as they batted for the cycle in the game as a team with five doubles, a triple and two home runs. Garcia and Hanzawa each had two doubles and Valle had a home run and a single.
Not to be overlooked was the pitching of Tyler Cloyd (4- 2) who has been very reliable for the BlueClaws this season. He has now won three straight and went seven innings, allowing one run and eight strikeouts. Cloyd did not walk a batter and has only walked one batter in his last 35 innings. Ryan Ariail pitched a clean eighth inning and Jacob Diekman pitched the ninth, allowing a solo home run to Bobby Spain.
Maurice Bankston (1-4) picked up his fourth loss of the season as he was wild early and allowed seven hits and seven runs in five innings. He was relieved by Ryan Kelly in the sixth, who allowed two unearned runs in three innings and Alan Knotts closed the game out.
With the win, the BlueClaws will remain at least 1.5 games ahead of the rest of the South Atlantic League Northern Division in what was the 36th game of 70 to be played in the first half.
Game two of the series on Tuesday at 7:05 pm will feature the BlueClaws righty and single-game strikeout record holder Jason Knapp (2-3) as the BlueClaws look to go to seven games over .500 for the first time this season. The Power will counter with lefty Rudy Owens, who has an impressive 4-1 record on a team with 24 losses.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 18, 2009
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- Intimidators fall below .500 with loss to Hagerstown - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- BlueClaws Light Up Power, 9-2 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
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- Kings of Khaos wrestling event this Friday at L.P. Frans - Hickory Crawdads
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