MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - LAKEWOOD, N.J. - The BlueClaws offense went silent on Saturday night at FirstEnergy Park as they saw a four-game winning streak come to a halt in a 5-1 loss at the hands of the Greenville Drive.
The BlueClaws picked up just five hits in the ballgame and two after the fourth inning. Greenville starter Chad Povich (6-3) carried the majority of the load, pitching six scoreless innings. The right-hander gave up three BlueClaws hits while striking out five and walking two.
The BlueClaws made another late run, loading up the bases with none out in the bottom of the ninth, but Javier Garcia got the only three batters he faced to close out the game with just one run across.
Kyle Foster pitched two strong innings in relief, allowing a run on two hits. The 6-foot-6 right-hander struck out one and walked one. Povich and Foster combined to retire 13 BlueClaws hitters in order from the fourth through the eighth.
Povich had plenty of room to work thanks to a rough night for Julian Sampson. The BlueClaws starter gave up five runs, four earned, on six hits and a walk. The big blow against Sampson (5-3) came in the second inning, when the Drive collected three straight his to start the frame on their way to three runs.
Mike Jones added single runs in the third and the fifth, picking up a pair of tape measure home runs against Sampson. His first long ball landed in the Coors Light WRAT Trap in right-centerfield, while his second ricocheted off a billboard in the rightfield corner. The two homers give Jones seven on the year.
Moises Melendez did his best to keep Lakewood in the ballgame, pitching two scoreless innings. The southpaw gave up two hits, but struck out a pair to keep the Drive off the board. Reymond Cruz also pitched a scoreless frame by striking out the side after allowing a pair of baserunners.
Two of the hottest BlueClaws hitters chipped in the little offense the BlueClaws managed. Tim Kennelly notched a pair of hits, including a base hit in the ninth. T.J. Warren also picked up a hit in his sixth straight game with a fourth inning double and drove in the lone BlueClaws run.
Despite the loss, the BlueClaws (14-9, 52-41) are still 9-5 this season against the South Division and 4-2 on the current homestand. Lakewood and Greenville (9- 14, 49-44) will continue the series on Sunday with the first 5:05 p.m. game at FirstEnergy Park this season.
Jacob Diekman (2-5) is scheduled to start for the second-place BlueClaws, while right-hander Ryne Lawson (4-3) will take the mound for the Drive.
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Sunday, July 13, 2008 at 04:25PM 
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