BlueClaws Blog

Welcome to LP Frans Stadium in Hickory, NC for tonight’s game between the BlueClaws and Hickory Crawdads. About set to get going here as they are turning the lights on bank by bank here the ballpark, which is situated up on a hill. The wind can really whip through here but today there is very little wind to speak of.

Game notes here. Audio here.

LWD- Jon Velasquez (4-0)
HIC- Richard Bleier (2-0)

7:00: They are starting the anthem now. First pitch moments away.

7:24: 1-0 Lakewood on a Jim Murphy single, driving in Harold Garcia.

7:32: HIC ties it at 1…RBI single from Matt West…They do all sorts of weird stuff here with the sound effects between pitches.  Kind of amusing. Wild west stuff mainly.

7:57: Extending the lead…the BlueClaws get a run on an E7 on a Valle base hit and another driven in by Villegas.

8:01: Great diving catch for Anthony Gose to end the bottom of the 4th after Collier ran about 50 yards to track down a fly ball earlier in the inning. These guys save runs, no question.

8:10: We are flying here…3-1 Lakewood already to the 6th inning. Velasquez looks good yet again…trying to become the first pitcher in the SAL to pick up 5 wins.

8:26: Jesus the Magnificent (Hey-soos)…Villegas a 2-run single…5-1 Lakewood.

8:43: Velasquez charged with two runs in the 6th so it’s now 5-3. He’s out, Tejeda in…JV can still get the W but now this is a ballgame again…5-3 Lakewood to the 7th.

9:00: Pretty double play started with a Garcia glove flip…to the 8th and it’s still 6-3 Lakewood.

9:19: Hickory scores a run off Tejeda’s lead-off walk…To the 9th…6-4 Lakewood…can the ‘Claws hold on?

9:24: Bergh stays in, he’ll go for the 6-out save…6-4 to the bottom of the 9th.

9:31: Game over…BlueClaws win 6-4.

9:38: Box score here.

Back at FirstEnergy Park on a gorgeous Friday evening for the second of this three game series. Lakewood won the opener last night 6-2, just the third BlueClaws game this year not to be decided by two runs or less.

LAK: RHP Jon Velasquez (3-0)
HAG: RHP Terrence Engles (0-0)

6:15: Game notes here.

6:18: First pro start tonight for Velasquez, who signed out of Northwood University in the spring after being spotted at an Atlantic League tryout.

6:47: Jesus Sanchez on the pregame show…Audio here.

7:27: Great start for Lakewood…1-2-3 first and then four in the bottom for the BlueClaws…RBI double by d’Arnaud and an RBI single for Valle. 2-0 LWD.

7:37: Velasquez gets into and out of trouble…getting Curran to line out with the bases loaded to end the 2nd.

7:42: ‘Claws down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 2nd…still 2-0 going to the third.

8:03: Still 2-0 Lakewood to the bottom of the 4th. Velasquez rolling right along.

8:10: Three zippos in a row for Engles…still 2-0 to the 5th. Velasquez has retired seven in a row for Lakewood.

8:27: d’Arnaud goes deep…4-0, still batting in the 5th.

8:29: RBI single for Villegas…now 5-0…blowout by BlueClaws standards…De Fratus in for JV.

8:34: After the BlueClaws struck out 18 in the game last night, up to seven tonight, including three in a row to start the frame for De Fratus.

8:45: Top of the 7th, De Fratus in there for Lakewood for his 2nd inning…Velasquez: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K…he could get to 4-0.

8:49: De Fratus 1-2-3 inning…still 5-0. Lakewood pitchers have retired 15 Hagerstown hitters in a row…9 by JV and 6 for JDF.

9:01: Jesus Villegas, all he does is get hits, now 12-27 on the year, drives in one with an IF single…6-0 to the 8th.

9:06: JDF gives up a hit but gets through no problem…Just in…Harold Garcia’s two triples tie him with Michael Bourn for franchise single-game record. Garcia tripled to lead off both the 1st and 5th.

9:44: Jimenez threw the 9th…6-0 final score. Just three hits for Hagerstown and the BlueClaws’ third straight win for the first time this year…Now 9-6…4:05 Saturday…see you then.