BlueClaws offense breaks out in 11-2 win in Kannapolis
Published on May 11, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - Michael Taylor, Mike Durant and Matt Rizzotti each homered to power the BlueClaws to an 11-2 victory over Kannapolis in a rain-shortened game on a drizzly Sunday night at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium.
Taylor's third-inning lead-off home run was his fourth in the last four games in which he has appeared. He also has 10 RBIs over that stretch. Taylor has three extra-base hits (two home runs and a triple) in the two games since returning from back spasms.
Durant matched Taylor's feat to start the sixth inning, crushing a Daniel Albritton pitch out to leftfield. The long ball was the ninth of the season for Durant through the first 36 games of the 2008 season. Durant is rapidly approaching the team record of 22 set by Juan Richardson in 2001.
Rizzotti added his second home run of the season in the eighth inning.
With the BlueClaws leading 11-2 with one out in the bottom of the ninth, thunderstorms rolled in leading to a premature end to the contest. The game ended while Kannapolis had runners at first and second with just one out.
While Taylor, Durant and Rizzotti added some flash with their big flies, most of the damage against Kannapolis came on just one hit in the fifth inning. Lakewood used four walks by a set of Intimidator pitchers and an error by Joe Persichina to push four runs across and put the game out of reach.
The offensive outburst came in support of Walter Tejeda, who was making just his second start of the season. Tejeda (3-1) lasted a season-high five innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits.
Moises Melendez and pitched four scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the BlueClaws. After giving up a lead-off single in the sixth inning, the southpaw retired nine straight hitters.
Jason Rice (1-4) took the loss for Kannapolis. The right-hander lasted just four innings, giving up four runs, all earned on eight hits.
The win pushed the Lakewood (19-17) to a season- best two games over .500 and within three games of first-place Lake County. The victory also sealed a second-straight series win and pushed the BlueClaws record to 5-3 against the Intimidators (16-20) this season.
Lakewood next heads to Greensboro for a critical four- game series with the Grasshoppers. Julian Sampson (2-1, 6.12) is scheduled to take the hill for the 'Claws, while Brett Durand (4-1, 6.00) will throw for Greensboro. First pitch is at 7:00 p.m.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 11, 2008
- Finale Versus Shorebirds A Wash - Lexington Legends
- Suns Game for May 11th, 2008 Postponed - Hagerstown Suns
- Power Rained Out - Charleston Dirty Birds
- BlueClaws offense breaks out in 11-2 win in Kannapolis - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Hickman Plates Game-Winning Run With Fifth-Inning Double - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Captains Lose to Greensboro 8-6 - Lake County Captains
- Legends Turn Back 'Birds, 3-2 - Lexington Legends
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