BlueClaws Fall 8-3 In 12 Innings On Monday

The Lakewood BlueClaws were swept in a series for the first time since June of 2009 as the Hagerstown Suns came into Lakewood, NJ and took all 4 games Friday-Monday. Lakewood led Monday's game 3-2 from the 3rd inning all the way until the top of the 9th inning when Hagerstown tied it and forced extra innings. The Suns then won it after they scored 5 runs in the top of the 12th inning and won 8-3.

Hagerstown led 2-0 after 2 innings, then the BlueClaws took a 3-2 lead on Anthony Hewitt's 2 RBI Triple in the bottom of the 3rd. Mario Hollands started for Lakewood and threw a good game. He went 5 innings, allowed 6 hits and 2 runs while striking out 7. Hollands left with the BlueClaws in the lead 3-2. The score remained 3-2 all the way until the top of the 9th inning when Juan Sosa allowed a run on a single that bounced off 1B Jim Murphy's glove with 2 outs by pinch-hitter Adrian Sanchez.

Lakewood had the bases loaded with one out in bottom of the 9th after Murphy reached on an error and Hewitt and Domingo Santana both singled. Torre Langley was the batter, but he struck out swinging, then Aaron Altherr flew out the RF to end the inning. Hagerstown then blew the game open with 5 runs in the top of the 12th. the 1st run scored when Colby Shreve hit David freitas with the bases loaded, 2 more scored on Randolph Oduber's single to RF, and the final 2 scored on Michael Taylor's fly ball to RF that Domingo Santana lost in the thick fog. The ball landed and Taylor got all the way to 3B for a 2 RBI triple. Lakewood went 1-2-3 in the 9th as Sam Brown got his 1st win of the season, and Colby Shreve fell to 2-3.

Monday the BlueClaws will head to Salisbury, MD to take on the Delmarva Shorebirds for game 1 of their 3 game series. RHP David Buchanan will throw for Lakewood. Buchanan is 5-1 with a South Atlantic League best 1.51 ERA. Delmarva will counter LHP Jacob Pettit who is 3-0 with a 3.40 ERA. First pitch on Monday is scheduled for 7:05 pm.