BLUECLAWS STEAL GAME THREE, 4-3

Beal Stellar in Seven Innings

SALISBURY, Md. – The Lakewood BlueClaws scored twice in the top of the eighth inning to erase a one-run Delmarva lead and held on for a 4-3 victory over the Shorebirds at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium on Sunday.

Consecutive two-out doubles from Jonathan Villar and Leandro Castro made it 3-3 before Jonathan Singleton knocked a base hit to right to score Castro for the game-winning run off reliever Nick Haughian (3-1).

Pinch hitter T.J. Baxter started the ninth with a bunt single and reached second on a sacrifice bunt but Lakewood’s Jordan Ellis got Gary Helmick and Ty Kelly to go down in order to end the game and earn his second save.

The BlueClaws’ rally spoiled an impressive outing by Shorebirds’ righty Jesse Beal, who surrendered four hits and one earned run over seven innings.

Luke Wertz (1-1) picked up the win in relief for Lakewood with two innings of two-hit ball.

Three BlueClaws had two hits apiece, led by Jiwan James who was 2-for-5 with a homer and two runs scored. Tyler Stampone, Steve Bumbry and Garabez Rosa each had two hits for the ‘Birds in the loss.

Lakewood took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Jiwan James leadoff the game with a base hit to left field and Jonathan Villar followed with a single up the middle, advancing to second when Mikey Planeta bobbled it in center.

A bouncing ball to shortstop scored James and moved Villar to third but Beal averted further trouble, getting back-to-back groundouts to end the inning.

The Shorebirds took a 2-1 lead in the second. Stampone doubled down the right-field line to begin the rally prior to perfectly placed bunt single from Planeta. A passed ball charged to Lakewood catcher Torre Langley moved the runners to second and third with no one out. Steve Bumbry knotted the game, pulling a groundball through the right side.

Mychal Givens gave Delmarva the lead when he lined a ball to center for a sacrifice fly, plating Planeta.

James launched his second home run of the season to right to even the score, 2-2, in the top of the third.

The ‘Birds regained the lead in the bottom of the third inning when Helmick scored on Planeta’s run-scoring fly to center with one out. Helmick singled to left and was sacrificed to second and was held up at third on a Stampone rocket up the middle.

The Shorebirds and BlueClaws close the series Monday at 2:05 p.m. For tickets and information, contact the Shorebirds’ box office at (410) 219-3112. On the mound will be right-hander Kenny Moreland for Delmarva (0-1, 4.26). Righty Julio Rodriguez (0-0, 4.91) will pitch for Lakewood.