LAKEWOOD, NJ – Harold Garcia provides the game-winning hit in the seventh inning, the Lakewood BlueClaws add insurance in the eighth to win 5-3 against the West Virginia Power and remain in first place in the South Atlantic League with 24 games remaining in the first half.
It was another productive first inning for both of these teams as the Power (18-29) struck first and took a 1-0 lead on an unearned run. The leadoff hitter Greg Picart reached on an error before being sacrificed to second and driven in by Calvin Anderson on a flare single to right.
The BlueClaws (27-19) would then strike back and take the lead in the bottom of the first as both Anthony Gose and Travis d’Arnaud doubled and were brought in on a Jim Murphy single to left to take a 2-1. Both teams would then go silent at the plate.
Tyler Cloyd, the BlueClaws starter, worked through six innings better than anyone this season, throwing just 65 pitches but got touched up in the seventh with a pair of two out doubles that tied the game at three. Cloyd lasted seven innings, giving up three runs, two earned, and striking out eight. He was relieved by Justin De Fratus who pitched a quick seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, in a tie game, Troy Hanzawa reached on an error by the right fielder Austin McClune who lost the ball in the lights, and was replaced at first as D’Arby Myers hit into a fielder’s choice. Harold Garcia then stroked a double into the left centerfield gap, scoring Myers from first to take the lead 4-3.
The BlueClaws then started the eighth with back-to-back baserunners, Sebastian Valle was hit by a pitch and Travis Mattair singled. Hanzawa then hit a bloop to left, scoring Valle to take a 5-3 lead.
Cloyd (5-2) picked up the win, his fifth and fourth in a row, as Ryan Bergh worked a clean ninth inning for his seventh save of the season.
The loss went to Ramon Aguero (0-2), who allowed the runs in the seventh and eighth to the BlueClaws. The starter was Maurice Bankston, who pitched well in 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out four.
Valle reached base three times with a single and a double and Gose scored two runs, had three hits and stole three bases on the day.
The BlueClaws will look to take three games for the second straight series against the Power in the final game of the series and the final game of the eight game homestand. Through 15 games of the BlueClaws 24 games in 24 days, they have a record of 9-6. Jason Knapp (2-4) will be the starter against Duke Welker (0-5). Knapp is 6-foot-5 and Welker is 6-foot-7.