Blueclaws are back for Season Opener Print E-mail
Blueclaws are back for Season Opener

Lakewood falls in home opener for 8th straight year
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS • April 9, 2009

LAKEWOOD — The irresistible force met the immovable object Thursday night.

Lakewood pitcher Tyler Cloyd hadn't been involved in a defeat in five consecutive season-opening starts dating back to his sophomore year in high school in Bellevue, Neb.

But he hadn't met the daunting BlueClaws' "Opening Game Jinx."

Though Cloyd and two relievers pitched well enough to succeed on most nights, the 2-1 victory by Baltimore Orioles Class A affiliate Delmarva marked Lakewood's eighth home-opening loss in a row.

"I did not know that," said Cloyd about the streak. "No clue. It's just the luck of the draw. Both pitchers were throwing.

"The other guy (6-foot-4 left-hander Richard Zagone) threw a good game and their team got the (key) hits."

Lakewood has not won its home opener since its first season in 2001 and that was a weather-suspended game not officially completed until the following day. Overall, Lakewood fell to 3-6 in season-openers.

Lakewood sent three 18-year olds, 2008 draft pick outfielders Zach Collier and Anthony Gose, and 2006 free agent Sebastian Valle into FirstEnergy Park action in front of 6,950 fans on Thursday. Even by South Atlantic League standards, the Lakewood youth is somewhat extreme.

"You can't get much younger," Lakewood manager Dusty Wathan said. "Yeah, it's young. "But that's what we drafted last year, and I think they're as good as anybody in the league. "I think we were a little excited at the plate with a lot of young hitters. Two-out RBI are hard to come by, and especially with young guys, it's something that's learned over time." Delmarva reached Cloyd for two-out RBI hits in the second and fourth innings.

Gose and Collier had Lakewood's only two hits off Zagone and three relievers. "I think we need to be a little bit more patient and think maybe up the middle more, especially with runners in scoring position," Wathan said.

Collier doubled with two down in the second inning and Gose cut Lakewood's deficit to a run in the seventh with an RBI single. The base hit to right ended an 0-for-6 Lakewood drought with runners in scoring position.

"It's (the level of play) definitely different, but I'm enjoying it," said Collier, the 34th pick in the 2008 draft.

"First night, before the game, a little butterflies but not much. I like pressure. It makes me focus on relaxing more."

Valle nearly gave Lakewood an early lead. With two on in the first, Valle, the catcher for the 2008 Gulf Coast League champion Phillies, sent a towering drive that was hauled down by Shorebirds centerfielder Xavier Avery at the 400-foot sign for the final out of the inning.

"It's just going to take some time," Wathan said. "It's their first time under the lights in a pro atmosphere. I think all in all, everybody did a good job."

 

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