Garcia Fans 11 But Claws Drop Opener to Lexington

August 18, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release

LAKEWOOD, NJ - MJ Melendez had four hits including a two-run home run as Lexington topped the BlueClaws 4-1 on Saturday night, snapping the BlueClaws five-game winning streak.

The BlueClaws (37-17/78-45) dropped the first of the four-game series with Lexington (31-22/68-53) in a battle of first place teams. They split their first series over the first weekend in August.

Matt Vierling singled home the game's first run in the second inning before Legends catcher MJ Melendez launched his 16th home run of the season, a two-run shot off Julian Garcia in the second that gave Lexington a 2-1 lead.

Garcia (6-3) fanned 11 Legends, matching a career-high set last year with Williamsport, but gave up the two runs on Melendez's homer.

Lexington starter Daniel Lynch (5-0) gave up the one run, which was unearned, over five innings of work while striking out a career-high eight.

The Legends added two runs in the eighth inning off Tyler Fallwell. The first scored on a wild pitch and the second on Marten Gasperini's RBI single.

Janser Lara threw three scoreless innings while Tad Ratliff threw a 1-2-3 ninth for his sixth save.

Rodolfo Duran and Matt Vierling each had two hits for Lakewood while Jake Scheiner went 0-4 snapping his 10-game hitting streak.

The BlueClaws and Legends continue their series on Sunday at 1:05 pm. RHP Spencer Howard(8-7) starts for Lakewood opposite RHP Yefri Del Rosario (4-5).

South Atlantic League Stories from August 18, 2018

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• Scrapple Sandwiches Braves in Opener - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Tourists Tee off on GreenJackets - Asheville Tourists
• Lynch Strikes out Career High in Victory over BlueClaws - Lexington Legends
• Garcia Fans 11 But Claws Drop Opener to Lexington - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Early Tourists Runs Setback GreenJackets - Augusta GreenJackets
• Hess Homers, RiverDogs Amass 13 Hits to Squeak Past Power in Opener - Charleston RiverDogs
• Power Drops Back-And-Forth Opener to RiverDogs - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Suns Fall to Fireflies 14-6 in Series Opener - Hagerstown Suns
• An Offensive Explosion in Hagerstown: Columbia Drills Three Homers, Steamrolls Suns in Opener - Columbia Fireflies
• Fireflies Game Notes: August 18 at Hagerstown (Game 119) - Columbia Fireflies
• West Virginia Power: Game Notes (august 18) - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Zamora Debuts with Mets Friday in Philadelphia - Charleston Dirty Birds

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