Good morning HomeSiders-
Some exciting baseball since my last post, but I have to begin in Lakewood with Tuesday's thrilling 5-4 come from behind win over Kannapolis. Let me set this up first. The BlueClaws (now 12-13) exploded on Friday night in Lexington for 12 runs and 19 hits. Then only managed 7 hits the next 2 games, dropping both decisions. Last night, the team returned home on a cool, overcast, breezy night, with Drew Naylor on the mound. I cannot say enough about the starting staff, and that goes for Naylor again Tuesday. He was great, going 7 innings, surrendering 3 runs (just 2 earned) on 5 hits and 3 walks, striking out 6 and lowering his ERA to 2.50. Certainly good enough to win on most nights, but the BlueClaws bats did not wake up until after he was gone. After being shut out by Kannapolis' starter Johnnie Lowe over the first 6 innings, the BlueClaws went into the bottom of the 8th inning down 4-0. Singles by Derrick Mitchell (3 hits, more on him later), Dominic Brown (also 3 hits) and Michael Durant (RBI #14) put the Claws on the board. After Joe Rocchio (1 IP, 1 hit, 2 strike outs, first win of the season) retired the Intimidators in the 9th, after giving up a lead off double to Sergio Morales, Lakewood began the dramatic rally. Travis Mattair was hit by a pitch, and then Freddy Galvis and pinch-hitter Karl Bolt walked to load the bases and set up the game winning rally. D'Arby Myers hit a screamer in to center that Morales made a great play on, but Mattair scored to give Lakewood their second run. this brought Mitchell to the plate. Derrick Mitchell has been struggling this year, but Tuesday night everything fell into place. Mitch belted one into off the right field fence for a double early in the game, then singled in the 8th inning rally. In the 9th, he smoked a double down the left field line to bring in the tying runs off of Santo Luis, to bring Brown to bat. The Intimidators wanted no part of Dominic, walking him intentionally. This brought up Michael Taylor, who was 0 for 4 on the night. Now, I have been watching this team for a month now, and if Taylor is 0 for 4, in my mind he is due. Sure enough, Taylor muscled a pitch into center field in front of Morales to score Mitchell with the winning run, and send the remaining crowd home exhilarated. The homestand continues Wednesday, Tyson Brummett getting the assignment.
In Clearwater Monday night, Edgar Garcia continued his strong start, shutting out the Yankees on 6 hits over 7 innings, striking out 8, to improve to 3-0, 3.34 on the year. Matt Spencer lead the shark attack with 4 singles, and Quintin Berry (2 singles, RBI, stolen base #8), Gus Milner (single, double, walk, run scored and RBI) and Welinson Baez (2 singles, RBI) all had 2 hit games in the Threshers 3-0 win. Berry, who stole 55 bases for Lakewood last year (in 73 attempts), is 8 for 10 this season.
In a game I overlooked Sunday in Colorado Springs, Gio Gonzalez was hit hard by the SkySox, giving up 5 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks in just 5 innings, taking the loss in Sacramento's 11-2 loss.
I am running out to work now, but will post again this afternoon to update the rest of Tuesday's action.
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