Sports stats

SAL1 Jersey Shore BlueClaws

Timely Hitting, Strikeout Pitching Lead 'Claws to Victory

April 23, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release


LAKEWOOD, NJ - The Lakewood BlueClaws make it two straight in what amounts to a blowout victory for the home team, beating the Hagerstown Suns by the score of 6-2. This season, all but two games the BlueClaws (8-6) have played have been decided by two runs or less. In addition to timely hitting, the BlueClaws used the power of the strikeout to send would-be Suns (5-7) hitters down.

After a 14 strikeout performance by Jason Knapp two games ago, the BlueClaws pitchers on Thursday combined for 18 strikeouts as Jesus Sanchez (1-1) picked up his first professional win. Sanchez began the game with six strikeouts in the first two innings, and finished the game with nine in five innings. Sanchez did not allow a run and has progressed in each of his three starts this season.

The score was tied until the bottom of the fifth inning as the BlueClaws loaded the bases with two outs in front of D'Arby Myers. Myers lined a ball past Troy Hanzawa's head and into the outfield, Hanzawa was on first and ended up scoring on the play as Myers was caught in a run-down after two runs had scored.

The BlueClaws added to their lead in the sixth inning as Harold Garcia singled to lead off the inning, he was then brought home by Anthony Gose who doubled. Gose later scored on a wild pitch to make the score 5-0.

In the seventh inning the Suns made their comeback as they pushed runs home in both the seventh and the eighth innings with a big threat in the seventh with the bases loaded, but Jacob Diekman struck out two straight batters to end the inning.

Jim Murphy, one of the league's leading hitters, added his fifth RBI of the season in the eighth as he brought home Gose after his second double of the game.

Jack McGeary (0-1) started the game and worked well through the first four innings but ran into trouble in the fifth as he allowed thee runs. He started in the next inning and was responsible for a fourth as Chris Lugo came into the game in relief.

Santo Hernandez came in to finish the ballgame as he worked a clean ninth inning. He struck out the side.

BlueClaws pitchers struck out the side in five innings in the ballgame.

On a two-game winning streak, the BlueClaws look to make it three in a row on Friday at 7:05 as Jon Velasquez will make his first start of the season. He is the league's leader in wins with three. Velasquez will be opposed by Terrence Engles.

Check out the Jersey Shore BlueClaws Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from April 23, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Jersey Shore BlueClaws Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central