Dynamic Duo! Blubaugh and Santos II Pitch a Gem

LAKEWOOD- It was Asheville’s A.J. Blubaugh versus Jersey Shore’s BlueClaws on Tuesday night and A.J. along with his piggyback pitcher Alex Santos II pitched the Tourists to a thrilling 2-1 win. Both teams had a hard time generating offense but Asheville had just enough to take Game One of the series.

Michael Sandle led off the top of the third inning with a Home Run to straight-away centerfield that gave the Tourists a 1-0 lead. Jersey Shore tied the game on a one-out RBI single in the fourth; however, a double-play ball ended the threat.

The Tourists quickly responded on a single, hit-by-pitch, and walk to load the bases with no outs in the fifth. Justin Williams delivered a Sacrifice Fly to center and Rolando Espinosa raced home from third. The Tourists did not put another runner on base the rest of the game.

Blubaugh dealt the first five innings, gave up one run on three hits, and struck out five. A.J. turned the ball over to Santos II in the sixth. The Tourists right-hander pitched four scoreless, hitless innings down the stretch, all with a slim one-run lead, to earn his first save of the season.

In Santos’ six appearances since July 16, the Bronx, NY native has a win, a save, a 2.66 ERA in 23.2 innings pitched with 35 strikeouts and only 15 hits allowed.

Austin Deming’s fourth inning double and Espinosa’s single to lead off the fifth were the other two Asheville hits aside from Sandle’s Home Run. Jersey Shore also finished the game with three hits.