EAST LAKE, OH – A sweep was not in the cards for the Lakewood BlueClaws as they lost the last game of their three-game series 4-2 at Classic Park on Wednesday Night to the Lake County Captains. The BlueClaws (3-4) ended their first road series of the season winning two games and only dropping the final contest.
The Captains (2-5) got ahead early for the second game in a row as Donnie Webb and Marc Thompson lead off the game with singles and later scored in the inning to give the Captains a 2-0 lead.
They added two more runs in the second inning as BlueClaws starter Jason Knapp made an error to start the inning off and gave up a double to Mike Valadez. Both runners scored later on a single by Webb and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Thompson.
The BlueClaws would fight back however, as they got runs in each the third and fourth innings as Anthony Gose reached on a fielder’s choice and then later scored on a bases loaded walk to Troy Hanzawa. In the fourth inning, Jesus Villegas, who began the season 6-for-10 at the plate, singled and he was brought home as Gose stroked a double down the line.
TJ House, the starting pitcher for the Captains, went just two outs into the fourth inning as he allowed the two runs on four hits. He was then relieved by Mike McGuire (1-0) and Matt Langwell, who both shut down the BlueClaws bats, something Captains pitching has not been able to do in the previous two games. Combined, they went 4 1/3 innings and allowed just one hit and no runs. Kyle Landis came in for the save and ran into a little trouble, loading the bases with two outs in the ninth before getting Troy Hanzawa to fly out sharply center field.
After going 5 2/3 in his first start of the season, Knapp (0-2) went the same distance and struck out half as many batters as he allowed four runs, two of which were earned. He settled down to retire his last 11 batters in order before Esmelvin Jiminez and BJ Rosenberg pitched the final 2 1/3 of the game, only allowing one baserunner.
In the game, Travis Mattair tied a BlueClaws record by walking four times. He has now walked seven times in the last two games. Villegas and Jim Murphy each recorded two hits in the game and both are hitting .500 on the season, Villegas in 12 at-bats and Murphy in 20.
Back on the road, again, the BlueClaws will travel to Maryland to visit the Hagerstown Suns on Thursday to begin a four game series. This is the second road series of the season and the BlueClaws hope to finish their seven-game trip above .500. On the mound in his second start of the season is Rob Roth. Roth was successful in his first outing, going five innings and surrendering just one run. He will be opposed by righty Terence Engles.