Skip to main content

BlueClaws Clinch 2nd Half Title

LAKEWOOD, NJ- The first play of the game set the tone for the Augusta GreenJackets. BlueClaws lead-off man Jiwan James reached on a walk by right-handed pitcher Brian Irving, but the fourth ball got by Augusta catcher Tommy Joseph, who took his time retrieving the ball at the backstop and James hustled on the play, surprising the GreenJackets and reaching second base. The sulking attitude set in with the battery and quickly became contagious with the rest of the Augusta defense.

Errors, bases loaded walks, passed balls, hit batters, a wild pitch and several base hits by the Lakewood line up led to an unexpectedly remarkable night. The BlueClaws entered the game with an opportunity to clinch the second half division title, provided they won and rival Greensboro lost. The desired results occurred in blowout fashion in both games. Lakewood handled the Giants affiliate Augusta 14-2, while Greensboro was handed an 11-0 defeat by Savannah.

The scoring got started in the first inning when James, who reached on the aforementioned walk, scored on a fielding error by Irving. Back-to-back RBI hits by Stephen Batts and Keoni Ruth put the 'Claws up 3-0 after one frame.

Lakewood continued its onslaught in the 2nd inning. Catcher Jim Klocke (31st round 2010 draft pick), making his Class A debut, singled and was later driven in on a bases loaded walk to the Phillies' top prospect Jonathan Singleton. Two more passed balls later, the BlueClaws had tossed up another 3 on the scoreboard.

In the 3rd inning, the game truly became a rout when the home club added 6 more runs. The frame went on so long that BlueClaws starter Trevor May needed to throw in the bullpen during the 11-batter inning, in order to stay loose. Right-hander Jeremy Toole entered the game in relief, for Augusta, but failed to retire any of the 7 Lakewood batters that he faced. Klocke's single that plated Ruth was the only RBI hit in the inning. Other runs scored on an error, a wild pitch, 2 sacrifice flies and another bases loaded walk to Singleton.

Lakewood added 2 more runs in the 4th inning on a 2 RBI double by Singleton that scored Klocke and Michael Dabbs and put the 'Claws up 14-0.

The Phillies' 4th ranked prospect, righty hurler Trevor May, threw 6 innings, striking out 7 GreenJackets batters, while walking 1 and letting up just 1 earned run. Manager Mark Parent was impressed with May's efforts on Wednesday night. "May did so good that I think I could've went back there and caught him tonight," Parent, a retired former Major League catcher, said after the game. "I'm excited about him hopefully doing the same things in the playoffs."

May, who didn't surrender a hit until the 5th inning on Wednesday, is 7-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 11 starts with Lakewood this season.

By clinching the 2nd half title, the BlueClaws became the first team since Capital City in 2004 with win both halves of the SAL season. "It's quite an accomplishment for a bunch of young guys- probably the youngest team in the league all year. And for these guys to compete, day in and day out, the way they did...it's a credit to those guys working out, staying in shape so they're strong throughout the season," Parent added.

Phillies assistant general manager in charge of player development Chuck Lamar was in attendance to watch the defending South Atlantic League champions lock down the second half title, along with pitching coordinator Gorman Heimueller. Lamar spoke about another big season for the BlueClaws. "It's been a tremendous year here in Lakewood, developmental wise. We're just in that cycle of signing a lot of young, talented players and I think we've had competitive clubs here over the past few years and from a developmental stand point, it's just been a great year here all the way around," Lamar said.

The series wraps up Wednesday at 7:05pm when Lakewood sends Eric Massingham (5-2, 3.72 ERA) to the hill to make his first start of the season. Augusta will counter with righty Chris Heston (5-12, 3.84).

The South Atlantic League playoffs begin next Wednesday. Fans can view ticket information by clicking here.

______________________________________________

Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PhoulBallz Q&A with Mike Stutes

Mike Stutes completes "The Reading Phils Mike Tri-fecta" over three days, here on PhoulBallz.com. Stutes, a 22 year old, was an 11th round selection by the Phillies in the 2008 amateur draft. Stutes, a right handed starting pitcher, helped lead Oregon State to the College World Series championship in both 2006 and 2007. Stutes and teammate Vance Worley are the first players to begin a season at Reading the year after being drafted since Pat Burrell did it in 1999. Stutes was the Phils' minor league pitcher of the month in August '08, when he went 4-1 with a 1.72 ERA in 6 starts. Check out my Q&A with the third Mike below. Can I get you to talk about the coaching staff and how they help you deal with ups and downs? They've been real positive with me. I started out good and then I hit a rough patch. They've stuck with me through it all. I haven't heard any negative words from them. Every day they try to come out, work with me, try to get me turned around...

Jason Knapp Q&A

PhoulBallz .com was fortunate enough to meet with Phillies prospect Jason Knapp just one day after he caught the attention of the baseball world with his 7 shut out innings, 14 strike out performance against the Indians' Lake County team. - I asked Jason, the Lakewood BlueClaw , for some thoughts about his big game... I had pretty good command of three pitches (fastball, curve, change up). I was on the same page with my catcher, D'Arnaud , and I ended up, ya know, I felt pretty good. - In a great performance like that, how much credit goes to Travis D'Arnaud , the catcher? More than you might expect, definitely. I didn't shake him off once. He told me what to throw and I do what I'm told. And if it works out, a lot of the credit goes to the catcher. - Does the lack of run support (Lakewood has scored 3 total runs in his 3 starts), in your few starts, increase your stress level, or enhance your focus? No, I just try to go out and do my job every outing. Ya know, we...

Yankees Fans Misled By Pepsi Promotion

**** Today, New York Yankees fans attended a Pepsi promotion in Times Square hoping for chances to win opening day tickets to the new stadium, but the tickets, which were difficult to track down due to poor organization on Pepsi's part, were actually for a game in June. Furthermore, the 250 pairs that were promised were actually only 100 pairs. The fans, who were made to sprint through traffic over multiple city blocks when locations for the promotion changed, quickly turned against the soda brand by pooring out their beverages and chanting anti-Pepsi phrases. Yankees fans are even threatening a boycott of Pepsi. An appearance by Yankee great Goose Gossage could not even settle the angry mob, as he had to be whisked away, as a precaution, according to the Daily News . Ooo , I'd hate to see what "the worst fans in sports" (Philadelphia fans) would have done to their free Pepsi cans and beloved reliever in that situation. Because this happened in a non-Philly city, th...