Blue Claw's Offense Struggles , Lose 2-1 to Georgia.

The Blue Claw's offense never got untracked
and in the process made Georgia Starter Dan Holder look like the next Cy Young winner.

The offense only mustered 2 singles until they finally strung together 3 consecutive hits to score a run and actually take the lead 1-0.

In the bottom of the 7th, Terry singled, Rowe followed with a double, scoring Terry, after Amador flew out, McBean single to center, sending Rowe to third. To put some speed on the base pads, Rowe was lifted for pinch runner, speedy Raul Guevara. Seeming to need to keep Reliever Dan Forbes in the game the Claws try a Squeeze bunt that failed. To end the threat McBean was caught stealing second for the final out of the inning. I will give the Claw's credit for at least trying to provide a little bit of a cushion going down the stretch and force the action.

Keeping Forbes in the pitching slot didn't seem to help as the Rattlesnakes came right back and took the lead in the bottom of the 7th, with 3 hits of their own.

Forbes promptly give up 2 hits before being pulled. In comes Zheng to serve up a single to Ageda the first batter he sees, that brings in Montalvo and Chevalier to give the Rattlesnakes the lead for good.

In that inning Joey Butler continued his hit streak, now at 25 with a single to left.

The Claws never got anything going in either the bottom of the 8th or the 9th as Holder and Closer Edgar Prado put this one to rest.

The Claw's go into the summer classic break with the thoughts of another game that they could have won.

For the Claw's pitching they had to use 5 tonight. Gutierrez couldn't go more then 60 pitches tonight. He's had good stamina starting games this season but tonight , no gas in the tank after just 4 innings pitched. This really hurts as the bullpen could have used some additional rest going into a big series with Washington in a few days.

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