BlueClaws split weekend series
Published on July 18, 2004 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release
HAGERSTOWN, MD - Tim Hutting's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning scored Jon Coutlangus with the winning run, as Hagerstown downed Lakewood 5-4 Sunday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. The BlueClaws dropped to 10-13 in the second half of the season and 41-9 overall, while the Suns improved to 9-14 in the second half and 37-53 overall. The BlueClaws won five of the eight games played between the teams in Hagerstown and have six more games left with the Suns at FirstEnergy Park before the season ends.
Coutlangus legged out a drag bunt base hit with one out in the ninth and moved to third base on an errant pickoff throw by Cory Schultz. Hutting then lifted a 2-1 pitch into left field that was caught by Chris Klemm, who was moving back and to his left. The throw to the plate was late and Coutlangus scored standing up to hand Schultz his first loss of the season. Hutting knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning in both games of the series.
The BlueClaws tied the game with a pair of runs in the seventh inning against Brian Wilson, who went four innings in relief to pick up his first win of the season. Bryan Hansen led off with a triple, his third in four games, and scored when Randy Ruiz blasted the next pitch off the wall in right field for his second double of the game. Carlos Rodriguez moved Ruiz to third with a ground ball out before Jose Cortez flied out to shallow centerfield with Ruiz staying at third. Omar Bramasco then delivered a base hit to left to score Ruiz to get the game tied at four. Hansen has hit safely in six straight games and 14 out of his last 15 and has collected 20 during that stretch.
Lakewood took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Michael Bourn belted the second pitch of the day from Travis Nesmith over the wall in right field for his second long ball of the season and his career. Hagerstown scored a pair of runs in the first off Erick Arteaga and added another in the second on a run-scoring single by Travis Ishikawa. The BlueClaws closed the gap to 3-2 on a Bramasco home run in the fourth, his seventh of the season and first in 30 games dating back to June 8. Jason Columbus hit a home run in the fifth, his eighth of the year and fourth against Lakewood, to push the home team's lead to 4-2. The Suns have hit 13 home runs to the BlueClaws five in the 12 games played between the two teams.
Travis Nesmith lasted five innings in a spot start for the Suns, his eighth of the year. The southpaw yielded a pair of runs on seven hits and three walks. Nesmith, who fanned five, was filling in for Ben Thurmond, who was sidelined by an elbow injury. Arteaga lasted seven innings for a fifth time this season and allowed four runs on eight hits. He struck out one and walked one in his third start against Hagerstown.
The BlueClaws return home Monday night to open a two-game series with Lake County at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Scott Mathieson gets the starting assignment for Lakewood against Captains right-hander Scott Roehl. Coverage of Monday's game can be heard on 1160 WOBM-AM and www.sportsjuice.com starting at 6:50 p.m.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 18, 2004
- Cook's long ball launches Legends in 10th - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- BlueClaws split weekend series - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Captains Rally, but Lose, 8-7 - Lake County Captains
- Hutting Sac Fly Gives Suns The Win - Hagerstown Suns
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