LAKEWOOD, NJ – After losing two in a row, the Lakewood BlueClaws are back to their winning ways on Wednesday as they sneak past the Lake County Captains 6-5. The six runs are the most the BlueClaws (7-6) have scored at home this season.
The Captains (5-8) got out ahead of the BlueClaws as they used leadoff baserunners in the first and second innings to tally a run in each. They added a third run on an Abner Abreu triple, as he came home to score on a throwing error in an attempt to cut him down going to third.
As they have done a number of times in the past, the BlueClaws fired right back and put four runs in the fourth inning to take the lead 4-3. A one-out error sparked the rally that sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning. Anthony Gose drilled a triple to the wall in right-center and Travis d’Arnaud hit a two-run double to take the lead.
The BlueClaws would then extend their lead in the seventh innings on the strength of another two-run double by Travis d’Arnaud to make the game 6-3. In all, d’Arnaud recorded four RBIs, on three hits, two for extra bases. He now has 13 RBIs on the season and is amongst the league leaders in that category.
Rob Roth (1-0), the BlueClaws starting pitcher started slow, allowing three runs in three innings, but settled down to go six innings and picking up his first win of the season. He was relieved by Justin De Fratus, who struck out the side in the seventh, and BJ Rosenberg, who came in for a two-inning save. Rosenberg allowed two runs in the ninth, however the tying run never reached base.
Highly touted prospect TJ House (0-1) started and did well in the first two innings for the Captains, but had trouble in the third. He threw 33 pitches and allowed four runs, all unearned, and is tagged with the loss. Anillins Martinez worked the next two innings, with great success, as he struck out five of the seven batters he faced. Mike McGuire and Kyle Landis finished the game for the Captains.
The BlueClaws won three of four against the Hagerstown Suns as they’ll come to Lakewood for a three game series at 6:35pm. The BlueClaws will send Jesus Sanchez to the mound for the third time this season. He went five innings and looked good in his last start.