Claws drop game one of doubleheader, 5-3 in 9
Jones hit his fourth homer of the season off Luke Wertz (4-4) to bring the extra inning affair to an end (doubleheader games are usually just seven innings each.)
Through the first five innings the BlueClaws (32-24) had a runner reach in each inning (four via doubles) before ultimately stranding them there. The Claws went 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position and stranded ten.
Destin Hood opened the scoring for Hagerstown (25-32) in the first, hitting a sacrifice-fly with a runners on the corners for an early 1-0 lead.
That's where the score would stay until the fifth. The Suns scored two in the top half but stranded the bases loaded against Brody Colvin. Brett Newsome singled in one, and Justino Cuevas grounded into a fielder's choice to bring in another.
Lakewood would answer back in the sixth. With one out Sebastian Valle would single, and Stephen Batts hit a potential double-play ball to Rick Hague at short that would sneak between his legs for an error to score a run. Jeremy Barnes would follow with an RBI double, and Kenoi Ruth with an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3.
Barnes finished the night 3-for-3 with three doubles before being pulled for a pinch runner in the sixth.
It the top of the seventh, Josh Smoker walked the bases loaded with one out, but he struck out Batts and Korby Mintken to work out of the jam.
Game two is set to start at 8:40 pm.
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