MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – EASTLAKE, Ohio -- The BlueClaws suffered another critical defeat on Saturday night at Classic Park, as Chris Kissock was unable to close out a ninth inning lead and Lake County pulled out a 6-5 walk-off win.

Lakewood held a 5-4 lead heading to the bottom half of the ninth inning, but Kissock was unable to nail down the victory. The right-hander, who lasted just 1/3 innings on Friday night, struggled again, giving up three hits in the final frame.

Jeff Hehr led off the ninth with a base hit, setting up the game-winning rally off of Kissock (4-6). After a bunt and a base hit, Hehr touched home plate on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Karexon Sanchez. Kissock intentionally walked Friday's hero Matt McBride to face Dustin Realini. Realini chopped a ball toward Freddy Galvis that would have gone as an infield single, but the BlueClaws shortstop tried to get the lead runner at third and threw the ball away to allow the winning run to score.

Derrick Mitchell had given the 'Claws a ninth-inning lead with a lead-off long ball off of Paulo Espino that snapped a 4-4 deadlock. It was Mitchell's second home run of the series and 10th home run of the season. Espino (2-0) took the win despite giving up the home run to the Lakewood second baseman. He struck out four batters in his 2 1/3 innings and gave up just the one run.
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The loss dropped the BlueClaws to 2 1/2 games behind first-place West Virignia with nine games left to be played in the regular season. The Power opened their series in Lexington with a convincing 6-0 win over the Legends. West Virginia has eight games remaining--three more against Lexington and five at home with Kannapolis.

Lakewood jumped out to a 4-1 lead off of Lake County starter Joey Mahalic. The Captains right-hander gave up four runs on seven hits in four innings of work. Lakewood's biggest rally came in the fourth, when the 'Claws pushed across a pair. Herman Demmink picked up an RBI base hit before Mitchell drove in another on a fielder's choice.

But Lake County evened the game against Lakewood starter Mike Stutes with three runs in the fifth. Matt Brown's bases loaded single tied the game at 4-4 and chased Stutes from the game. Stutes had his rockiest outing of the season, lasting just 4 2/3 innings, giving up four earned runs on five hits. He walked four and struck out six.

Lakewood (38-23, 76-55) has now lost two straight games after winning three in a row. They will send Mike Cisco (2-0) to the mound in the series finale with Lake County (29-31, 70-60), while the Captains will counter with Joanniel Montero (3-6). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. on Sunday.

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