South Jersey Baseball:
Delmarva Pushes Across Winning Run In Tenth Inning

Sunday, April 23, 2006

By Mark Fletcher
SJSports Special Correspondent

After heavy rain forced the postponement of Saturday evening's game, the Lakewood BlueClaws played the Delmarva Shorebirds in a Sunday afternoon game at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon with temperatures in the mid 60's and light winds.

Lakewood entered this game riding a five-game winning streak after sweeping four straight from the Greensboro Grasshoppers. The BlueClaws were looking to improve on their 5-9 record. Meanwhile, Delmarva entered this game with an 8-5 record, trailing the Lexington Legends by one-half game in the Northern Division of the South Atlantic League.

John Castellano broke up a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning and gave Lakewood a 1-0 lead when he blasted his first home run of the season over the left-center field fence.

The BlueClaws added two more runs in the top if the sixth inning on singles by Gregory Golson, Sean Gamble, and Lou Marson. The BlueClaws were also aided by a throwing error by center fielder Lorenzo Scott Jr.

Maximo De La Cruz was pitching a brilliant game for the BlueClaws until he served up a home run to Kyle Dahlberg in the bottom of the eighth inning. After a single by the next batter, De La Cruz’ day was over.

Brett Harker came in from the BlueClaws bullpen, but could not save this game for Maximo De La Cruz. Harker gave up a single, hit a batter, and then served up a bases-clearing triple to Arturo Rivas. Delmarva enjoyed a 4-3 lead at this point.

Lakewood was not done yet, scoring a tying run in the top of the ninth inning when Fidel Hernandez scored from third on a wild pitch. After Delmarva failed to score in their half of the ninth inning, this game was tied 4-4 and went into extra innings.

The Shorebirds manufactured the winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning when Zachary Davis doubled and scored one out later on a single by Stuart Musslewhite.

This series between the BlueClaws and Shorebirds continues at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium with a Monday evening game followed by a rare 10:35 AM Tuesday morning game. The BlueClaws will then return to FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood for a six game home stand that includes the Hagerstown Suns and Lake County Captains beginning Wednesday, April 26th.