SAL1 Jersey Shore BlueClaws

Pujols Breaks Home Run Record in Claws 4-2 Win

August 20, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release


SALISUBURY, MD - Jose Pujols set a franchise record with his 23rd home run and Seranthony Dominguez fanned nine over six good innings as the BlueClaws topped Delmarva 4-2 on Saturday night at Perdue Stadium.

The win, Lakewood's 11th in their last 15 games, puts the BlueClaws at 32-23/61-63 on the season while Delmarva falls to 21-33/63-60. The BlueClaws are now 1.5 games up on Hagerstown, who was rained out on Saturday at Lexington. Kannapolis, Saturday winners over West Virginia, remains two games back.

Delmarva threatened in the ninth inning, trailing 4-2. The Shorebirds had runners at first and second with one out off closer Sutter McLoughlin. Steve Laurino lined to third and Jan Hernandez knocked it down, stepping on third for a force. Then Drew Turblin lined to third, but this one was caught by Hernandez to end the game. It was McLoughlin's ninth save, all in the second half.

Pujols got the BlueClaws on the board in the first inning with his 23rd home run. In the process, the 20-year old broke the BlueClaws single-season franchise home run record, breaking a tie with Jim Murphy (2011) and Juan Richardson (2001), who each hit 22. Pujols has hit 12 home runs in Lakewood (also a franchise record) and 11 on the road among his league-leading 23 home runs this season.

Delmarva tied the game in the second on a Seranthony Dominguez wild pitch that scored Randolph Gassaway, the only run allowed by Dominguez. That run was unearned run after an errant pick-off throw by Dominguez allowed Gassaway to move from first to second base.

Lakewood took the lead in the third on a solo home run by Emmanuel Marrero, his fourth of the season and second in as many nights.

Delmarva starter Brian Gonzalez (8-8) came out after six innings, allowing two runs on six hits. Steve Klimek came for the seventh and gave up one run on SAC fly by Grenny Cumana.

Dominguez (3-2), meanwhile, gave up just one unearned run in six innings, striking out a career high nine hitters. He has allowed just eight ER over his last seven starts, covering 35.1 IP, after allowing five runs in 1.2 innings of his BlueClaws debut on July 5th.

Mark Laird, who had an RBI single in the ninth for a key insurance run, went 3-5 for the BlueClaws.

The series with Delmarva continues on Sunday at 5:05 pm. RHP Franklyn Kilome (5-8) starts for Lakewood opposite RHP Ofelky Peralta (7-5).

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