The BlueClaws five-game winning streak has been snapped. ---
The BlueClaws five-game winning streak has been snapped.
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LAKEWOOD, NJ - MJ Melendez had four hits including a two-run home run as Lexington topped the BlueClaws 4-1 on Saturday night, snapping the BlueClaws five-game winning streak.
The BlueClaws (37-17/78-45) dropped the first of the four-game series with Lexington (31-22/68-53) in a battle of first place teams. They split their first series over the first weekend in August.
Matt Vierling singled home the game's first run in the second inning before Legends catcher MJ Melendez launched his 16th home run of the season, a two-run shot off Julian Garcia in the second that gave Lexington a 2-1 lead.
Garcia (6-3) fanned 11 Legends, matching a career-high set last year with Williamsport, but gave up the two runs on Melendez's homer.
Lexington starter Daniel Lynch (5-0) gave up the one run, which was unearned, over five innings of work while striking out a career-high eight.
The Legends added two runs in the eighth inning off Tyler Fallwell. The first scored on a wild pitch and the second on Marten Gasperini's RBI single.
Janser Lara threw three scoreless innings while Tad Ratliff threw a 1-2-3 ninth for his sixth save.
Rodolfo Duran and Matt Vierling each had two hits for Lakewood while Jake Scheiner went 0-4 snapping his 10-game hitting streak.
The BlueClaws and Legends continue their series on Sunday at 1:05 pm. RHP Spencer Howard (8-7) starts for Lakewood opposite RHP Yefri Del Rosario (4-5).
- BlueClaws -
