MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com -
MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - HICKORY, N.C. - Lakewood needed just four hits to pick up a 4-1 victory over the Hickory Crawdads on Friday night at L.P. Frans Stadium.
The BlueClaws broke open a tie ballgame in the top of the eighth inning without the use of a hit. Hickory first baseman Tom Hagan made two errors on back-to- back plays, setting up two unearned runs. The winning-run crossed home plate after Hagan threw away a possible doubleplay ball off the bat of Joel Naughton.
Lakewood has scored just six runs in the last two games, but has allowed only one in that stretch. The BlueClaws have scored four runs or fewer in 20 of their 28 second half games.
Matt Rizzotti gave the BlueClaws a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth with a solo home run. It was the designated hitter's first long ball since May 27 and the first for either team in the series.
The lead did not last against Lakewood starter Julian Sampson. The 19-year old right-hander gave up the Crawdads only run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI- single from Albert Laboy. But the single run was the only blemish against Sampson (6-3), who gave Lakewood seven innings. Hickory did collect seven hits against Sampson, but nearly every time the young hurler battled through.
The BlueClaws (18-10, 56-42) are now 11-6 in games started by Sampson this season.
Hickory starter Matt McSwain did not factor in the decision, despite allowing just two hits in five innings. The right-hander allowed Rizzotti's homer and struck out six without issuing a walk.
The damage was done against reliever Serguey Linares (0-1), who was his first appearance with the Crawdads (11-17, 41-57) this season. He surrendered three unearned runs on one hit and three walks.
Closer Jared Simon, who had pitched in each of Lakewood's last two games and three of the last four, got the night off in favor of Sergio Escalona. The southpaw got the final three outs, all strikeouts, to close out the BlueClaws win for his second save of the season.
Lakewood will go for the series sweep Saturday night at 7:00. Left-hander Jacob Diekman (3-5) will make the start for the BlueClaws, while Rafael De Los Santos will take the bump for Hickory.
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Saturday, July 19, 2008 at 08:04AM 
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