The BlueClaws return home for a four-game series over the next three days to finish the first half of the season. However, they do so having already clinched the championship in the first half of the season.

LWD- RHP Jon Velasquez (9-2, 4.52)
LCO - RHP Danny Salazar (1-3, 7.88)

First-Half Champions: By virtue of their 8-3 victory on Thursday night, the Lakewood BlueClaws at 40-25 have guaranteed themselves the best record in the first half of the season. With that, the BlueClaws have locked up their second playoff spot in team history, first was the 2006 SAL Champions.

He’s Got the Most: …Wins in the league: Jon Velasquez. With nine wins, tonight’s starter is looking for ten, and to keep his lead atop the South Atlantic League. …Stolen Bases in the league: Anthony Gose. With 43, Anthony Gose leads all of Minor League Baseball in steals.

Two in a Row: In addition to locking up the first half title, the BlueClaws also won their 40th game of the season on Thursday for the third time in team history and for the second half in a row. In the second half last season, the BlueClaws went 42-28, yet finished second. The BlueClaws have finished the last seven halves with a record above .500.

Game notes…Audio…

7:10: Velasquez starts things off right as the First Half Champions with a 1-2-3 inning and two strikeouts.

7:21:  Lakewood gets three hits but no runs, as Harold Garcia got caught stealing for the first out…to the 2nd.

7:36: A misplay by D’Arby Myers leads to a run…Myers in center for Gose who has the night off.

7:51: Weather is absolutely perfect…first of five fireworks nights (6/25, 6/26, 7/2, 7/3) over the next two weeks.

8:12: Still 1-0…5 hits for Lakewood but no runs…1-0 Lake County to the bottom of the 5th.

8:24: Lakewood ties it up…an RBI groundout by Steve Susdorf…1-1, though the ‘Claws had ‘em loaded with nobody out in the inning.

8:40: Sometimes you just have to take advantage of an opportunity…And Lake County had the bases loaded for Adam Abraham, but Velasquez struck him out. They had two on and nobody out as well.

8:57: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R for JV…Santo Hernandez in for the 7th.

9:08: Great play by Abner Abreu, running down a Jim Murphy liner w/ Susdorf at first and two outs…If he doesn’t catch it, then Susdorf scores and Lakewood leads…As is, still 1-1 to the 8th.

9:30: Onto the 9th…still 1-1, and Santo on for his 3rd inning of work.

9:57: Through 9.5…Roth in relief of Hernandez, who thows three shutout on 6 hits.

10:20: Another weird win for Lakewood…this on a bases loaded HBP to Zach Collier…’Claws win 2-1 in 10, four in a row…see you tomorrow for a DH beginning at 1 pm.

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This entry was posted on Friday, June 19th, 2009 at 5:19 pm and is filed under 2009 BlueClaws, Live Blogs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.