LAKEWOOD, NJ - Hagerstown scored three runs in the 10th inning and held off the BlueClaws, who had tied the game with four runs in the eighth, 8-6 on Thursday night at FirstEnergy Park.

The Suns (24-16/67-43) took the first game of the four-game series from the BlueClaws (21-18/50-58), and Lakewood is now 2.5 games in back of Hagerstown. The Suns also improved to 14-5 against Lakewood this year.

Hagerstown scored three runs in the 10th inning on just one hit. They took the lead on a throwing error by pitcher Zach Morris (6-2) after a Rhett Wiseman bunt. A SAC fly by Grant DeBruin made it 7-5 and Wiseman scored on a throwing error on Deivi Grullon. All three runs were unearned.

Jose Pujols homered in the bottom of the 10th, his 20th of the year, but after Deivi Grullon doubled, Carlos Duran lined out to centerfield to end the game. Mick VanVossen earned his seventh save.

Jake Johansen, who threw two scoreless innings of relief, earned the win, improving to 2-1.

Hagerstown got on the board in the second inning on a two-run home double by Narciso Mesa for a quick 2-0 lead off BlueClaws starter Jose Taveras. The Suns added a third run in the sixth inning on a SAC fly by Grant DeBruin.

Taveras ended up allowing three runs over six innings with six strikeouts and no walks.

In the bottom of the sixth, the BlueClaws had two on for Cornelius Randolph, who took a strike two call and was ejected by the plate umpire, David Martinez. Jan Hernadez came up in Randolph's place and grounded out before an infield single by Damek Tomscha scored the first BlueClaws run of the game.

Suns starter Taylor Gilbeau came out after six, allowing one run on four hits.

Hagerstown scored twice in the top of the eighth on a two-run single by Jakeson Reetz before the BlueClaws strung together six hits in the bottom of the eighth to tie game. They got one run on an infield single by Grenny Cumana, another on a groundout by Jan Hernandez, and two on a single by Damek Tomscha off Jake Johansen to tie the game.

Mark Laird had two hits in his BlueClaws debut and Grenny Cumana extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an single in the eighth.

The series with Hagerstown continues on Friday night. RHP Harold Arauz (3-5), activated off the disabled list earlier Thursday, will start for Lakewood against RHP Jefry Rodriguez (7-8).

- BlueClaws -