BlueClaws win first of the year

For the third straight game, the Lakewood BlueClaws got very good pitching, defeating Delmarva 3-2 in 11 innings on D'Arby Myer's 3rd hit of the game. Lakewood stole 5 bases, and finally got some timely hits to produce the season's first victory. Myers, who reached on an infield hit in the 4th inning, and went to second when shortstop Jedidiah Stephen's throw went wild. "Moose" Mattair sacrificed him to third and Travis D'Arnaud singled him home. It was D'Arnaud's first hit in 3 games. In the 11th, Myers singled in Leandro Castro, who had walked to start the frame, and advanced to second, then to third on wild pitches.

For the 3rd consecutive game, the BlueClaws got excellent pitching. Although they have lost 2 of 3, they have given up just 7 runs in 3 games. Saturday Rob Roth started and gave the team 5 strong innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits. He walked 4 and struck out 4. Santos Hernandez and Ryan Bergh combined for 3 shut out frames, before Brian Rosenberg gave up the tying run in the 9th. Rosenberg recovered to throw a scoreless 10th, and Jon Velasquez threw a 1-2-3 11th, picking up the victory.

The teams will wrap their game set Sunday, Lakewood will look for the split with converted catcher Jesus Sanchez making his season debut. I will not attend due to family commitments.

The Dunedin Blue Jays beat Clearwater 10-6 Saturday, roughing up Julian Sampson in the process. Sampson lasted just 3.1 innings, giving up 7 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks, absorbing the loss. Chance Chapman came in and threw 2.2 frames, giving up just 1 hit and 2 walks, striking out 4 while the Threshers battled back to 8-5, but could not catch up. Chris Kissock gave up a run on 3 hits in his inning and Michael Schwimer gave up another one in his 2 innings.

Clearwater got 2 hits each from Javis Davis, Derrick Mitchell (.286, single, double,run scored) and Fidel Hernandez (.417), and 3 RBI from Tim Kennelly. Dominic Brown had a hit and 2 walks, and pick up an assist throwing out a runner at third base. The Threshers are off today and will complete the 4 game set with Dunedin on Monday.