Three-Run Sixth Gives Lakewood Comeback Victory, 3-2
For the first five-innings of Tuesday night’s game, the Charleston RiverDogs Freicer Perez was in complete control, blanking the Lakewood BlueClaws. However, three-runs in the sixth inning erased a two-run deficit and the visitors would get four outstanding innings from their bullpen on their way to a 3-2 victory.
Both Perez and Lakewood starter Bailey Falter kept this a scoreless tie through the first two frames. In the bottom of the third, Charleston took the lead. With one down, Blake Rutherford grounded his eighth double of the season down the line in right field and moved to third on a ground out. Hoy Jun Park then beat out a ground ball to first for a single, scoring Rutherford and it was 1-0.
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In the bottom of the fifth, the RiverDogs extended their lead. With one down, Angel Aguilar took a Falter offering and drilled it over the left field fence for his first homerun of the season to make it 2-0.
Perez had looked brilliant through the first five innings, allowing two doubles and a single through the first five frames of the game. The right-hander was cruising, but in the sixth the BlueClaws would finally be able to get on the board.
Daniel Brito led off the inning with a double down the line in right and a wild pitch moved him to third. Henri Lartigue followed with a single to right to score Brito and it was 2-1.
Perez was replaced by Kolton Mahoney, but Lakewood would not be shut down. Mickey Moniak struck out with Lartigue stealing second on the third strike, and Darick Hall followed with a double into the gap in center to tie the score. A ground out moved him to third and he scored on a wild pitch to give the Lakewood BlueClaws their first lead of the game.
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Clinging to a one-run lead, the visitors turned to their bullpen and they would get four outstanding innings. Jonathan Hennigan took over in the sixth and allowed a lone walk in his two-innings of work. Will Hibbs closed out the game allowing the tying run to reach second with two down in the ninth, but he would get a ground out to end the game for his first save of the season.
Bailey Falter (1-1) earned his first win of the year. He allowed 2-runs in 5-innings while striking out 4. Luke Williams led the BlueClaws offense with three hits in four trips to the plate. He doubled twice. Both Hoy Jun Park and Diego Castillo were 2-4 for the RiverDogs. Park had an RBI.
These two teams have a late morning affair tomorrow. JoJo Romero will go for the Lakewood BlueClaws against Jio Orozco.
By Robert Pannier