LAKEWOOD SWEEPS DOUBLEHEADER FROM DELMARVA

Shorebirds Fall Five Games Out of First

Salisbury, Md. – The Lakewood BlueClaws used solid pitching to sweep the Delmarva Shorebirds in a doubleheader on Monday night at Perdue Stadium. The ‘Claws won game one 4-3 and took game two of the doubleheader 5-0. The Shorebirds drop into fourth place in the division, five games back of Lakewood. The two teams have played 44-innings over the last three days.

In game one, Lakewood jumped on Shorebirds starter Brent Allar for three runs in the fourth inning. Michael Dabbs drew a leadoff walk. Stephen Batts then singled. The runners moved up 90-feet on a sacrifice bunt by Jeremy Barnes. Anthony Hewitt followed with a tapper up the middle to plate the first run. Then, with two outs, Jiwan James ripped a triple to right-center field to plate Batts and Hewitt.

The Shorebirds got one back in the bottom of the fourth and tied the game with two in the seventh inning. Down 3-1 in the seventh, Garabez Rosa scored on a throwing error by Jonathan Singleton. Brian Conley scored on a ground out by Kieron Pope to tie the game.

After no runs came in during the first two extra-innings, Sebastian Valle hit a solo homer in the top of the tenth inning to give Lakewood a 4-3 lead.

Luke Wertz (4-1) picked up the win by throwing two scoreless innings. James Brandhorst (1-6) was pinned with the loss.

Cole McCurry was sent to Delmarva on loan from Frederick to pitch game two of the doubleheader. He lasted only 1.2 innings and allowed two hits and two earned runs. McCurry walked three and struck out four.

The Shorebirds were held to just five hits in game two. Lakewood right-hander Julio Rodriguez was sharp in six shutout innings. He allowed four hits and no runs. He also fanned ten batters and walked one to earn his third win of the season.

The Shorebirds and BlueClaws play the series finale on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m.