Crawdads Escape Asheville with 5-4 Win
April 20, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Asheville, NC - A potentially easy win turned into anything but for the Hickory Crawdads Monday night, as the 'Dads built an early 5-run lead only to survive with a 5-4 win over the Asheville Tourists at McCormick Field.
The first half of the game was squarely in the Crawdads corner, as the team scored once in the 1st, three times in the 2nd, and once more in the 5th for a 5-0 advantage. Travis Demeritte produced Hickory's first run as he doubled with one out in the first, took third on a groundout, and scored on a balk by Asheville starting pitcher Carlos Polanco. The 'Dads second inning offense started with a one out, solo home run from Tripp Martin to left field. One out later, Josh Morgan singled to center, stole second base, and scored on an RBI single by Jose Cardona. Finally, Cardona came in for the team's third run on an RBI base knock from Michael De Leon to make the score 4-0. Hickory plated its final run in the 5th when Jose Trevino laced a solo homer inside the left field foul pole for a 5-0 advantage.
That seemed to be more than enough support for Hickory hurler Brett Martin, who began the game with 3.1 no-hit innings and faced the minimum number of batters through five before finishing with one run allowed on three hits, no walks, and three Ks over 6 IP.
The Hickory bullpen followed with two threatening but ultimately harmless innings, with relievers Trey Lambert and John Fasola combining to take the game to the 9th with the Crawdads up 5-1. The Tourists had a golden opportunity to get back in the contest in the bottom of the 8th when they loaded the bases with nobody out against Lambert, but Fasola came in and was able to get back-to-back strikeouts before Morgan made a diving catch at third base for the final out of the inning.
Asheville was finally able to break through offensively in the 9th, as the Tourists got to Fasola for three runs on three hits and a walk to make the score 5-4 with the tying run on base. The Crawdads then brought in Chris Dula from the bullpen to try to close out the game. Asheville quickly got the tying run in scoring position when DH Wes Rogers swiped second base for his league-leading 12 steal of the year, but Dula was able to end the rally and the game with a strikeout of Emerson Jimenez to give the 'Dads the 5-4 victory.
Martin (1-0) earned the win for Hickory with his standout start, while Dula picked up his first save of the season with the strikeout to end the game. Polanco (0-2) took the loss for Asheville after allowing all five 'Dads runs on 12 hits, no walks, and four strikeouts in 5.2 IP.
Martin and Trevino each finished the game 1-4 with a home run, while Cardona finished 2-4 with a double, RBI, and a run scored.
The Crawdads (7-3) and Tourists (6-4) will meet again on Tuesday for a doubleheader, with game one scheduled to start at 5:05 pm.
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