Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Five-Run 9th Inning Sinks Lakewood Wednesday

April 15, 2015

LAKEWOOD, NJ - Greensboro plated five runs in the ninth inning to break a 2-2 tie and top the BlueClaws 7-2 on Wednesday afternoon at FirstEnergy Park, finishing the first homestand of the season with the BlueClaws starting the year 4-3. 

Lakewood, looking for the sweep of the three-game series with the Grasshoppers, had the go-ahead run at 3rd base with one out in the 8th inning, but were unable to score Carlos Tocci. 

The Grasshoppers then scored five times in the ninth inning, four off Calvin Rayburn (0-1) and one off Jesen Therrien. Greensboro loaded the bases with two walks and a hit batsman when Aaron Blanton struck out. Mason Davis, who tied the game with a double off Ricardo Pinto in the 7th inning, grounded to second base, and Grenny Cumana made an errant throw home which allowed two runs to score. Arturo Rodriguez added a two-run single off Therrien and Austen Smith had an RBI single for the final margin. 

The BlueClaws wasted a stellar outing by Ricardo Pinto, who went seven innings, tying a career high, and struck out 10 hitters, settin ga new career high. He gave up just two runs, and has allowed three runs in 13 innings over his first two starts of the season. 

After falling behind 1-0, the BlueClaws took the lead with two runs in the 4th inning. Herlis Rodriguez drove in one with an RBI single and Tim Zier scored on a fly out by Joel Fisher to left - it was ruled that catcher Arturo Rodriguez did not give Zier room to slide in safely, so he was called safe by plate umpire Ronnie Whiting, an error on Rodriguez. 

Greensboro starter Jose Adames allowed two runs/one earned over six innings. Josh Hodges threw two scoreless innings to earn the win (1-0) and Colby Suggs threw a scoreless 9th. 

Carlos Tocci and Tim Zier each had two hits for the BlueClaws.

The BlueClaws went 4-3 on their season-opening homestand despite allowing the first run in all seven games. 

Lakewood opens a seven-game road trip with a four-game series in Hagerstown. The teams meet Thursday night at 6:05 pm. LHP Josh Taylor (0-0, 1.80) throws for Lakewood against RHP Luis Reyes (0-0, 0.00). 

- BlueClaws -