BlueClaws Drop Sunday Afternoon Game to Greenville

The Lakewood BlueClaws fell to the host Greenville (S.C.) Drive 2-1 Sunday in South Atlantic League play.

Greenville, a Boston Red Sox farm team, scored two runs in the fifth inning and its bullpen threw four scoreless frames in the low Class A game.

The teams split the four-game series to start the second half of the season.

Greenville reliever Trevor Kelly threw three shutout innings and Victor Diaz pitched a perfect ninth, striking out Lakewood’s Jose Pujols for his third save of the season.

Lakewood fell to 31-42 overall, including 2-2 in the second half. Greenville is 39-34 on the season, including 2-2 in the second half. Lakewood, a Philadelphia Phillies farm club, won the season series 5-3.

Lakewood starter Drew Anderson and Greenville’s Roniel Raudes both faced the minimum 12 hitters through the first four innings. Lakewood took a 1-0 lead in the fifth on a homer to left-center by Jose Pujols, who leads the SAL with 14 four-baggers.

Greenville replied with two runs. Luis Alexander Basabe hit an RBI double to tie the game at one and Austin Rei followed with a sacrifice fly.

Raudes worked five innings, allowing one run on three hits, striking out six and walking none. He’s 7-2 on the season.

Anderson (1-2) allowed two rubs on four hits. Skylar Hunter followed with two scoreless innings.

Lakewood will open a three-game series on the road against the Hagerstown (Md.) Suns, a Washington Nationals affiliate, Monday night. Lefty Tyler Gilbert (4-6) will be the BlueClaws’ starter.