BlueClaws finally get in the win column

MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Lakewood BlueClaws' shortstop Fidel Hernandez makes the putout at second base during the BlueClaws' home opener on April 13 against the Delmarva Shorebirds. Delmarva won the game, 9-2.

The Lakewood BlueClaws were hoping that playing before a home crowd for the first time all season would provide the spark they had been missing through their first seven games.

Unfortunately, the 7,353 cheering fans did little to change the outcome of last Thursday's home opener for the BlueClaws, as the local team dropped its eighth consecutive game, 9-2, to the Delmarva Shorebirds.

What began as a festive night at FirstEnergy Park turned ugly for the host BlueClaws as Delmarva's Juan Gutierrez launched a Matt Maloney pitch over the right-field fence in the fourth inning for a two-run shot that gave the Shorebirds a 4-2 lead.

The lead grew to 6-2 in the fifth, and eventually 9-2 in the seventh, as the BlueClaws continued to shoot themselves in the foot, committing four errors that led to two unearned runs.

On Friday it was more of the same, as the BlueClaws dropped a 5-2 contest to Delmarva to fall to 0-9 on the year. Lakewood pulled to within 3-2 in the eighth inning when third baseman Tim Kennelly launched a two-run home run, but Delmarva responded with two runs of its own in the top of the ninth to pull away.

The BlueClaws finally were in the win column Saturday, when they beat Delmarva, 8-7, in 13 innings when left fielder Julian Williams scored on a two-out hit by DH Sean Gamble.

Williams reached on a walk with two outs and a full count. Sean Gamble came to the plate, and with Williams running on the pitch, Gamble lined one into right-center. Williams was waved around third and beat the play to the plate to give Lakewood their first win of the season. Reliever Andy Barb picked up the win and gave up just two hits in four innings of work.

The winning hit came after the BlueClaws rallied for four runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game at 7-7 and force the extra innings.

Ryan Frith led off the inning with a single and was followed by what could have been a double-play ground ball but was misplayed by Rafael Rodriguez at second base off the bat of Greg Golson. Aaron Cheesman singled to left, scoring Frith. Tim Kennelly singled up the middle, and an intentional walk to pinch-hitter Gamble loaded the bases with one out. A fly ball to left field by Cooper Osteen was deep enough to get Fidel Hernandez, who pinch-ran for Kennelly, home from third.

A screaming line drive found its way from Harris' bat into the glove of Marconi at third, and Lakewood was headed to extra innings for the first time at FirstEnergy Park this season.

With the win, Lakewood finally made it to the win column heading into their four-game series with the Greensboro Grasshoppers, which began Tuesday and ends tomorrow.

On Saturday, they'll head to Delmarva for a four-game series with the Shorebirds.