SAL1 Jersey Shore BlueClaws

BlueClaws need 10 innings for 6-5 win over Asheville

Published on July 21, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release


ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- For the second straight game the Lakewood BlueClaws claimed an extra-inning victory after giving up a ninth inning lead. On Sunday afternoon, the BlueClaws needed 11 innings to take a 4-3 win and on Monday it took just 10 frames to take a 6-5 victory.

Freddy Galvis' fifth hit of the game turned into the game-winning run in the tenth, after Lakewood squandered a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the ninth. Galvis doubled with two away in the top of the tenth and advanced to third on a throwing error by Brian Rike. Joel Naughton followed with a base hit back up the middle to push across the decisive run.

The extra frame was neccessary after Sergio Escalona failed to close out the victory in the ninth. With Jared Simon pitching three innings on Sunday, the final three outs were left to Escalona, who could not deliver. He gave up three runs in the ninth, including RBI singles to Everth Cabrera and Michael Mitchell. Escalona (5-1) did get the final outs in the bottom of the tenth to earn the victory.

Chance Chapman, who has been one of the BlueClaws most consistent starter since the departure of Drew Naylor, did not dissapoint. The right- hander went seven innings, giving up three runs, two earned on five hits. Chapman retired the first eight hitters that came to the plate and struck out eight batters, one shy of his career best.

Lakewood's offense, which had posted two runs or fewer in seven of Chapman's first 17 starts, supplied that and more in the second inning alone. The BlueClaws put the first two runners aboard to start the frame with a Matt Rizzotti base hit and a hit by pitch by Asheville starter Robinson Fabian. Galvis notched an RBI double to give the BLueClaws the early 2-0 lead, before Naughton made it a three run advantage with a base hit.

Galvis had his best offensive game of the season, five- for-five with three RBIs and two runs scored. It was the first five-hit performance by any BlueClaws hitter this season.

Rizzotti also stayed hot, running his hitting streak to nine games. The Lakewood first baseman finished two-for-five, though saw his three-game home run streak come to an end.

While Fabian departed on the hook for the loss, he did strike out a career-best nine hitter in six innings of work. The right-hander gave up four runs, three earned, in that stretch. Fabian, Craig Rodriguez, Randall Taylor and Matt Reynolds (4-1) combined to strike out 14 BlueClaws hitters. It was only the second time the BlueClaws had struck out 14 times in a game this season, equalling the total amassed by Kannapolis on May 9.

The BlueClaws have now won six games in a row, one away from matching their longest winning streak of the season. Lakewood (21-10, 59-42) won seven games from May 21 to 27.

Lakewood will try to wrap up a series win on Tuesday night at 7:05 at McCormick Field. Vance Worley (1-0) will make his fourth start of the season for the BlueClaws and the first against the Tourists (18-13, 58-43).

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 21, 2008


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