Errors Unravel Crawdads in 4-3 Loss
July 4, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Hickory, NC - The Hickory Crawdads normally sure-handed defense proved to be the team's undoing Friday night, as the 'Dads committed two errors that allowed three unearned runs to score resulting in a 4-3 loss to the visiting Greenville Drive in front of a season-high crowd of 4,623 fans at L.P. Frans Stadium.
The Crawdads entered the 7th inning leading 3-2 and with starting pitcher Brett Martin back on the mound after retiring the last 12 consecutive batters. Following a walk and a groundout to start the frame Martin got Greenville left fielder Mike Meyers to strikeout on a ball in the dirt for what should have been the second out of the inning, but Hickory catcher Jonathan Meyer's throw to first to complete the K sailed into right field allowing a run to score to tie the game and placing the go-ahead runner at third base. One out later, Drive right fielder Bryan Hudson lined an RBI single into center field off of Crawdads reliever Joe Filomeno for the deciding run in the 'Dads 4-3 defeat.
Greenville jumped out to the initial lead in the game as well, with another Hickory error playing a role. Drive leadoff hitter Yoan Moncada started the night with a triple to center field in the 1st and came in two batters later on an RBI sacrifice fly for a 1-0 score. The next inning began with a lead off single by Meyers before he took second base on a wild pitch, moved to third on an errant pickoff throw by Martin, and finally scored on an RBI groundout for a 2-0 Greenville advantage.
Martin settled down from there and would hold the Drive scoreless over the next four frames while retiring 12 in a row. The Hickory offense responded in the 3rd, when Jose Cardona lined a solo home run to start the inning before Luke Tendler roped an RBI double to right to bring home Josh Morgan and tie the score at 2-2. The Crawdads took the lead the very next inning on anther solo homer, this time from Juremi Profar who connected on his first home run on the year to give the 'Dads the lead at 3-2.
The Hickory offense went cold over the next four innings as the Greenville pitching staff retired 14 of the next 15 batters before the 'Dads attempted one last rally in the 9th when Jairo Beras doubled to left with one out, but Drive reliever Jamie Callahan retired the next two hitters to end the game at 4-3.
Greenville starter Jalen Beeks (7-4) earned the win with three runs allowed on seven hits over 6 innings pitched. Martin (3-3) was the hard luck loser for the Crawdads after giving up four runs, one earned, on three hits over 6.2 IP. Callahan (1) earned the save with three scoreless innings of relief.
Profar ended the night 1-4 with a home run, while Cardona finished 1-3 with his long ball. Morgan completed the game as the lone 'Dad with a multi-hit game after going 2-4 with a run scored.
The Crawdads (48-29/4-5) will now head on the road for nine games beginning with a 4-game series in Greensboro starting Saturday night at 7:00 pm.
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