Drew Naylor threw a complete game to carry the BlueClaws to a 6-1 victory over Kannapolis on Saturday night at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium. It was the third straight winning decision for the 21- year old right-hander, who continued to justify his status as staff ace. Naylor gave up just one run on two hits, while getting seven 1-2-3 innings. He fanned a career-high 12 Kannapolis hitters and issued one walk.
It was the first nine-inning complete game of the season by a BlueClaws pitcher. Chance Chapman threw an eight-inning complete game on April 27 in a 1-0 loss to Lexington.
Naylor (3-2) struck out 11 hitters in his last start against Lexington on May 4 and now has now struck out 62 hitters in eight starts, the most in all of Minor League Baseball. Naylor led the New York-Penn League in strikeouts last season with the Williamsport Crosscutters.
The win moved Lakewood to 18-17 on the year, the first time all season they have been above .500. The 'Claws are four games behind first-place Lake County at the halfway point of the first half of the season.
The BlueClaws offense got a boost from the return of Michael Taylor. The Lakewood leftfielder has missed the last two games with back spasms, but was reinserted in the lineup on Saturday in the designated hitter position.
Taylor quickly shook off any effects of the injury, going 3-for-5 with a triple, a home run and three RBIs. The home run was Taylor's fourth of the season and third in the last three games in which he has played.
Most of the BlueClaws offensive efforts came against Kannapolis starter Nathan Jones (1-3). Jones gave up all five runs in 3 1/3 innings. He did strike out six hitters, but also allowed five hits and two walks.
Mike Durant also hit his eighth home run of the season in the Lakewood victory. The blast came against Wander Perez in the top of the eighth inning.
Santo Luis pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Intimidators. Kannapolis pitching combined to strikeout 13 BlueClaws hitters.
Both Kannapolis hits came in the fourth inning. Ronnie Gaines singled to start the frame and Christian Marrero tripled two batters later to bring the run across.
Lakewood will go for their second straight four-game series win at 5:05 on Sunday evening in Kannapolis (16-19). Walter Tejeda (2-1) will make his second start of the season for the BlueClaws, while Jason Rice (1-3) will take the mound for the Intimidators.