Lakewood falls short in championship bid

With back to back losses at home on Thursday and Friday, the Lakewood BlueClaws dropped the best-of-five South Atlantic League Championship Series three games to one at the hands of the Rome Braves.

After winning the series opener by a score of 5-0 in Rome on Monday, the Class A BlueClaws were in command.  However, Lakewood, having notched a 45-25 (.643 win %) record in the second half, would plate only two runs in the next three games, all of which were won by Rome.

Third baseman Damek Tomscha, a 17th round draft selection of the Phillies in 2014, was strong for the Lakewood offense throughout the postseason and was 7-for-14 (.500 avg) with a home run and two RBI in the finals.  The rest of the BlueClaws’ roster, however, was 18-for-121 (.149 avg) in the series against Rome.

Braves’ pitchers were dominant in their wins, striking out 34 BlueClaws while walking just five and allowing 16 hits in 27 innings of work.

For Lakewood, it was their first ever postseason series loss.  The club had previously reached the playoffs and won league titles in 2006, 2009 and 2010.  Additionally, they swept division rival Hagerstown in the opening round this year to reach the championship series.