Lakewood BlueClaws Edge Delmarva Shorebirds 3-1 - Advanced A, South Atlantic League

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Tim Kennelly, who just joined the BlueClaws roster on Saturday, delivered the game- winning hit in the eighth inning on Sunday afternoon at FirstEnergy Park to help Lakewood to a 3-1 victory over Delmarva.
Kennelly, making his second straight start since arriving in New Jersey on Saturday afternoon, knocked a bases-loaded base hit into right-centerfield to plate a pair of runs and put the BlueClaws up for good.
Lakewood was out-hit in the ballgame, thanks in large part to a strong start from Delmarva starter Robert Neigebauer. Neigebauer did not allow a hit through the first four innings, but gave up back-to-back knocks that tied the game, 1-1, in the fifth.
Neigebauer did not factor in the decision as he was pulled in favor of Brian Parker. Parker (5-2) finished out the ballgame, but took the loss after giving up the run-scoring hit to Kennelly.
The late offense came in support of Darren Byrd, who not only survived an early run,
ADVERTISEMENT but also a 35-minute rain delay. The Shorebirds took a 1-0 lead after the top of the first after an RBI double by Joe Nowicki, but that was all the offense they would muster against the BlueClaws right-hander. Byrd did not allow another run and even returned to the mound after a brief rain delay in the middle of the sixth inning.
But Byrd departed with the game tied, turning things over to Sergio Escalona and Jared Simon. Both relievers did their jobs to near perfection. Escalona (4- 1) gave up one hit in 1 1/3 innings, before Simon entered and struck out both batters he faced to claim his 12th save of the season.
The BlueClaws offense combined for just five hits, but made them count. Karl Bolt picked up his third and fourth hits of the brief two game series, including the RBI single that tied the game in the fifth. Mike Durant and Dominic Brown added a base hit each.
The BlueClaws next head to Hagerstown for their third straight two-game series. The Suns, who are currently in first place in the North Division, beat the BlueClaws in two of three games played at Municipal Stadium last week.
Lakewood will send right-hander Julian Sampson (4- 1) to the mound on Monday, while Hagerstown will counter with right-hander Cole Kimball (3-3).

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