BlueClaws Walk Off Winners 4-3 Over Charleston

The Lakewood BlueClaws snapped a 3-gmae losing streak as they returned home to FirstEnergy Park Monday night and escaped with a win by a final score of 4-3. Lakewood led most of the game, but Charleston tied it up at 3-3 on a big 3-run Home Run to left field by the 3B Kelvin Castro. But, the BlueClaws never gave up, and they scratched across a run in the bottom of the 9th inning to get their first walk-off win of 2011.

Cameron Rupp led off the 9th by getting hit by a pitch, then Anthony Hewitt reached on a 5-4 fielders choice for the first out. Hewitt moved to 2nd on the 4-6 fielders choice by Edgar Duran. Hewitt was running on the pitch and probably would have easily been doubled off had he not been running. RHP Danny Burawa then bounced a breaking ball in the dirt which allowed Hewitt to advance to 3rd. So with 2 outs, the BlueClaws needed a hit to win it. Aaron Altherr was at bat, and he hit a soft grounder into the hole at short. The SS Jose Mojica ranged to his right, backhanded and fired to first, but the throw was not in time as Altherr dove in head first safely and Hewitt scored to win the game 4-3 for Lakewood.

BlueClaws Starting Pitcher Mario Hollands was cruising through 6 innings for Lakewood, but he gave up 2 singles and a 3-run HR in the 7th to tie things up at 3-3. RHP Chase Johnson came in and pitched 2 shutout innings striking out 3 and allowing just 1 hit, and he picked up his first win as a BlueClaw. RHP Danny Burawa picked up the loss for the RiverDogs.

Tomorrow, RHP David Buchanan (2-0, 2.55 ERA) will take the mound for the BlueClaws as they try to make it 2 in a row at home. Charleston will counter with LHP Kramer Sneed (1-1, 3.77 ERA). First Pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm, and it's a Seniors Eat Free Tuesday at First Energy Park thanks to TD Bank.