BlueClaws Drop the Season Opener in Intimidating Fashion

The Lakewood BlueClaws opened their 2018 season on the road in Kannapolis, North Carolina versus the Intimidators.  The BlueClaws didn’t look intimated at all after taking a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning when shortstop Nick Maton went deep for his first home run of the season.  Maton batted ninth in the order and finished the game going 2-4.

The BlueClaws lead didn’t last long as Intimidators second baseman Tate Blackwood sent one out of the park to tie the game at 2-2.

It was a closely contested opener for the BlueClaws, as the teams each put up one run over the next two innings.  After a scoreless eighth, the game headed for the ninth which would prove to favor the home team.  The Intimidators took advantage of the home cooking when Mike Hickman’s double scored Blackman to win the game and take their home opener. Blackman was the game’s MVP after going 3-4 and scoring three of his teams four runs.

The BlueClaws used three pitchers in the 2018 opener, with Luis Ramirez taking the blown save and the loss.  The Intimidators Kade McClure pitched seven strong innings, striking out 10, before handing the ball over to the pen.  Aron McRee pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his first win of the season.

It was an up and down game for Lakewood’s Jake Scheiner, as the third baseman went 2-4 at the plate, but also made two errors in the field, allowing a run to score in the seventh.

The BlueClaws look to bounce back on Friday night at 7:05 against the Intimidators.  Lakewood will start LHP Will Stewart on the mound facing Kannapolis righty Lincoln Nenzman.