LAKEWOOD, NJ - A five-run eighth inning propelled the BlueClaws to an important 11-6 win over Hagerstown on Sunday as Lakewood wins their second straight game and pulls within 1.5 games of the first place Suns.

The BlueClaws lost a 5-0 lead, but at 6-6, took the lead on a fielder's choice groundout by Cornelius Randolph. Jose Pujols added an RBI single, Wilson Garcia an RBI double, and Deivi Grullon a two-run double for an 11-6 lead. Sutter McLoughlin threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning to seal the win.

Lakewood (23-19/52-59) won the last two games with Hagerstown (25-18/68-45) after dropping the first two in their four game series.

Zach Morris (7-2), who allowed two runs in two innings, earned the win while Grant Borne (3-1) took the loss.

Lakewood jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning after a two-run double by Jose Pujols, driving in Mark Laird and Cornelius Randolph.

The BlueClaws scored twice more in the second. The rally began when Emmanuel Marrero worked a walk with two out and none on, and Marrero down 0-2 in the count. The first second inning run scored on an RBI single by Cornelius Randolph and another on a wild pitch for a 4-0 lead. Both of these runs were unearned after an error on shortstop Edwin Lora.

The BlueClaws extended the lead in the fifth on a SAC fly by Deivi Grullon for a 5-0 lead.

Baez came out after five innings, allowing five runs, two of which were earned.

Hagerstown got back in the game with four runs in the sixth. Alberto Tirado started the inning and the first two reached on a walk and a hit batsman. Jake Waguespack came in then. Jake Noll's two-run double followed a run-scoring groundout by Grant DeBruin. Edwin Lora made it 5-4 with an RBI single.

The Suns tied the game in the eighth on an RBI double by Narciso Mesa before Lakewood's big eighth.

Cornelius Randolph, Jose Pujols, Wilson Garcia, and Deivi Grullon all had two hits with Pujols driving in three and taking the league lead with 71 RBIs this year. Grullon also drove in three for Lakewood.

The BlueClaws head to Delmarva for a three-game series starting Monday night. RHP Seranthony Dominguez (2-2) starts for Lakewood against RHP Cristian Alvarado (8-7).

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