SAL1 Jersey Shore BlueClaws

BlueClaws streak snapped by Charleston

Published on May 14, 2004 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release


LAKEWOOD, NJ – James Houser tossed seven shutout innings and Tommy Nichols belted a three-run home run to carry the Charleston (SC) RiverDogs past Lakewood 6-1 Friday night in front of a crowd of 7,267, the second biggest of the year at FirstEnergy Park. The BlueClaws lost a four-game overall win streak and six-game home winning streak and fell to 15-20. The RiverDogs improved to 22-12 and won for an eighth time in 11 games.

Charleston did not manage a hit off of BlueClaws' starter Scott Mathieson until Aneudi Cuevas singled into center field with one out in the sixth. The Charleston shortstop then broke early from first on a stolen base attempt and Mathieson stepped off the rubber, turned and threw to shortstop Carlos Rodriguez at second to retire Cuevas for the second out of the inning.

The game remained scoreless until the seventh when the visitors posted three runs. Mark Schleicher led off with a single and stayed alive on the bases when Mathieson threw into center field trying to retire him at second base on a bunt by Elijah Dukes, who reached first base on a fielder's choice. The runners advanced on a passed ball charged to Jose Cortez and scored on a double by Wes Bankston. An error on a ground ball by Marc Tugwell allowed Bankston to reach third and he then came into score when Colt Simmons bounced into a double play. Mathieson allowed all three runs, although only one was earned, on three hits and suffered the loss to fall to 2-3. The right-hander struck out three and walked one in his longest outing of the season.

Houser scattered four hits over seven innings and didn't give up more than one in any frame. The left-hander fanned five and walked one in picking up his second win against one loss. Houser, a second round draft choice by Tampa Bay last year, did not allow a runner past second base. The BlueClaws broke through with a run in the eight on a two-out double by Jake Blalock that plated Michael Bourn to trim the lead to 3-1. Scott Vandermeer came in to replace Bob Cramer and walked Randy Ruiz before retiring Bryan Hansen on a fly ball to end the inning and threat.

Charleston put the game out of reach in the ninth when Nichols slammed a two-out, three-run home run off of Cory Schultz to end an 0-for-15 drought at the plate. The long ball also brought an end to an 11 inning scoreless streak for Schultz. Lakewood put runners at the corners with two outs in the ninth but Javon Moran flied out to end the game. Vandermeer recorded his sixth save of the season and second in as many nights for the RiverDogs. Rodriguez, who lined out for the second out in the ninth, went hitless in three at-bats and lost an eight-game hitting streak.

The BlueClaws continue their four-game series with the Southern Division leaders on Saturday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. Right-hander CJ Woodrow takes the hill for Lakewood against Charleston right-hander Jason Hammel. All BlueClaws games, home and away, can be heard on 1160 WOBM AM and www.sportsjuice.com. Coverage of Saturday's game will begin at 12:50 p.m.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 14, 2004


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