BlueClaws Score Eight Unanswered to Win, 11-4

Lakewood, NJ - The Lakewood BlueClaws (26-37) scored eight unanswered runs to end the game and cruised to an 11-4 win over the Delmarva Shorebirds (22-41) on Sunday night at FirstEnergy Park.

The Shorebirds got off to an early lead in the third inning. Joel Hutter led off with a double to deep left-center field. Chase Weems followed with a single to put runners at first and third. Then, Kris Richards hit an RBI single to center field to give the 'Birds a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Adrian Marin hit a two-run single to stretch the lead to 3-0.

The BlueClaws responded immediately in the bottom of the third. Larry Greene, Jr. doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a double by Gabriel Lino. Later in the inning, Lino scored on a fielder's choice by JP Crawford.

In the fifth inning, Lakewood leveled the score on an RBI fielder's choice by Jiandido Tromp. 

The Shorebirds regained the lead in the sixth inning. Nik Balog led off with a double that one-hopped the top of the left-center field wall. Wynston Sawyer ripped a single to send Balog to third. Then, Lucas Herbst grounded to second to give the Shorebirds a 4-3 edge.

Shorebirds starter Matt Taylor went five innings and yielded five hits and three runs. 

Lakewood scored the final eight runs of the game. In the sixth inning, Crawford reached on a lead off walk issued by Mark Blackmar. Two batters later, Art Charles singled. Then, Josh Ludy hit a line drive triple to center field that Lorenzo dove out for and it skipped by him to the wall allowing both runners to score. Carlos Tocci followed with an RBI single to stretch the lead to 6-4.

In the eighth inning, Lakewood scored five runs against reliever David Richardson. Carlos Tocci and Gabriel Lino each had two-run singles in the inning. 

Lakewood reliever Zach Cooper, who pitched the sixth and seventh innings, earned the win. He allowed three hits and one run. 

Blackmar was pinned with the loss over two innings. He surrendered three hits and three runs. 

The Shorebirds return to Arthur W. Perdue Stadium for the final three home games of the season on Tuesday, August 27.