Giving up "the big inning" has plagued the Lexington County Blowfish for most of the season.
Thursday night at home, it came back to haunt them in a 15-2 loss to the Gastonia Grizzlies. After taking a 2-0 lead in the 1st on Houston Wright's 2-run homer, Lexington County starter Shane Connelly gave up a grand slam to Jeff Cyr in the Top 2nd. 
The Grizzlies then pounded out 8 runs in the 5th inning off relievers Ryan Flores and Grayson Stoneking and Luke Leisenring put the team in position to win on the "Mercy Rule" with a 3-run homer off Stoneking in the top 7th. 
Gastonia finished with 17 hits in clinching the Coastal Plain League West Division title for the 1st half of the season. 
The 7-inning loss marked the 2nd time this season Lexington County has dropped a contest on the new "Mercy Rule" imposed by the Coastal Plain League in which a game can end if the home team trails by 12 or more runs after 7 innings.
In addition, this marked the 9th time this season the Blowfish have allowed 10 or more runs and 5th time at Lexington County Blowfish Stadium. 
The 3rd straight loss dropped Lexington County to a CPL-worst 6-17 record Meanwhile, Gastonia (17-7) kept pace with Morehead City for the league's best record and clinched the West Division title for the first half of the regular season. 
The Blowfish head on the road to face the Macon Bacon Friday.