Claws Start Second Half With 2-1 Win Over Rome on Friday

JERSEY SHORE, NJ - Gunner Mayer gave up one run in five innings and he and our relievers combined to allow just three hits in a 2-1 BlueClaws win over Rome on Friday night at ShoreTown Ballpark.

Jersey Shore (1-0/36-30) has won three of four in the series from the Braves (0-1/30-36). Tonight was the first game of the second half of the season, and the BlueClaws are now 1-0.

Trailing 1-0, the BlueClaws came back to take the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Jared Carr tied the game with a SAC fly and Leandro Pineda's RBI single brought home Nick Ward with the go-ahead run.

Gunner Mayer (1-3) came out after five innings. He allowed just one run on three hits while walking four and striking out seven, matching his season high. Mayer had allowed one run through a 1.1 innings when he got out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the second. He then retired 10 in a row before a walk and a strikeout to end the fifth.

Tristan Garnett came on in the sixth and threw a 1-2-3 inning. Wesley Moore did the same, while fanning two, in the seventh. Tommy McCollum threw a scoreless eighth and Carlos Francisco threw a scoreless ninth to earn his fifth save. McCollum and Francisco are tied for the league lead with 25 appearances and tied for second in the league with five saves apiece.

Leandro Pineda had two hits in the game for the BlueClaws.

The BlueClaws and Braves continue their series on Saturday night at 7:05 pm.

-Jersey Shore BlueClaws-