Claws Withstand Rally, Hold on for 3-2 Win

The BlueClaws jumped out to a 3-0 lead and held off a Greensboro rally, defeating the Grasshoppers 3-2 on Wednesday night at FirstEnergy Park for their second straight win.

Cody Forsythe came into the game with the bases loaded in the ninth and a 3-2 lead. He struck out Carlos Lopez for the second out and got Avery Romero to ground out to second base to end the game.

Tyler Viza (1-2) threw a career-long seven innings and allowed six hits without walking a batter, striking out three. He is just the second BlueClaws pitcher (joining Mark Leiter, Jr on April 9^th at Greensboro) to throw seven innings in a game this year.

Lakewood (4-8) got on the board in the fifth inning. After hits by Larry Greene Jr and Willians Astudillo, Carlos Tocci delivered a two-run single on a 1-2 pitch to put the BlueClaws ahead.

Gabriel Lino hit his first home run of the year and 13^th of his career in the 7^th to extend the lead to 3-0 before Greesboro’s  (7-6) ninth inning rally.

Manaure Martinez allowed the first three hitters to reach, and Tyler Buckley came in to strike out Rheinar Cordova. After a Kentrell Dewitt two-run double, Justin Bohn was intentionally walked before Forsythe game in.

Forsythe also got the save on Monday and now has Lakewood’s only two saves on the year.

Willians Astudillo went 3-3 to raise his average to .433 over his first eight games played. Zach Green added two hits as well for the BlueClaws, who won the both games in the rain-shortened series with Greensboro.

The BlueClaws head to Hagerstown to open a three-game series on Thursday night at 6:35. RHP Alejandro Arteaga (1-1, 4.91) opposes RHP Dixon Anderson (2-0, 1.00).