SAL1 Jersey Shore BlueClaws

Bolt drives in winner in 8-5 BlueClaws win

Published on August 20, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release


EASTLAKE, Ohio -- For the first three months of the 2008 season, the Lake County Captains were one of the only teams to have the BlueClaws number. Two months since their last meeting, Lakewood hopes that time has shifted their fortunes. The BlueClaws got their five-game series with the Captains off to an exciting start at Classic Park on Wednesday night, handing the first-half champions a controversy filled 8- 5 defeat.

Lake County rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game, courtesy of a pair of questionable calls. With Eryk McConnell on the mound, Karexon Sanchez was hit by a pitch that he appeared to lean into.

Later in the inning, Juan Valdes tied the game with a three-run inside-the-park home run. Valdes hit the ball into the Lake County bullpen, out of the reach of rightfielder Tim Kennelly. Kennelly raised his hands signaling the ball was out of his reach, but after neither umprire responded to his gesture and he picked the ball up, leading to the home run. Manager Steve Roadcap and first baseman Matt Rizzotti were both ejected for arguing the call.

But Lakewood responded in the very next half inning, scoring three runs in the ninth to earn the victory. Derrick Mitchell was hit by a pitch to start the frame and Freddy Galvis reached on a passed ball on a strikeout. Karl Bolt, who entered only after Rizzotti was ejected, doubled to score both runners and make it 7- 5.

Tim Kennelly made it a three-run game with a base hit that scored Bolt.

Vance Worley, who had lasted just five innings in each of his last three starts, gave Lakewood swix strong frames on Wednesday, although he took a tough-luck no decision. The 3rd round selection out of Long Beach State gave up just one run on six hits. He struck out five and walked only one. Lakewood is now 6-3 in Worley's nine starts this season.

Chris Kissock (4-5) took the win by getting the final out of the eighth inning. Jared Simon hit the first batter he faced, but did manage to get the final three outs in order for his 27th save of the season.

Lakewood took an early lead against Lake County starter Chris Archer, picking up three runs in the top of the third inning. It was Mike Durant that had the biggest hit in the rally, picking up a two-out double to score Rizzotti and Kennelly. Kennelly had put the BlueClaws on the board with a RBI fielder's choice one batter earlier.

Durant also slugged a two-run home run in the eighth inning, his 16th of the season, to give the BlueClaws a 5-1 lead. Durant's four RBI performance was his second game this season with four or more RBIs and his most since driving in seven at Hagerstown on August 9.

The BlueClaws (37-21, 75-53) moved within a game and a half of West Virginia in the race for the second half championship. Julian Sampson (9-4) will try to keep things going for the 'Claws, while lefty Ryan Morris (8-4) will counter for the Captains (27-30, 68- 59).

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 20, 2008


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