Payano Leads 'Dads to Win in Debut
August 4, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Salisbury, MD - The Hickory Crawdads rode the standout debut of starting pitcher Pedro Payano to a series-opening win against the Delmarva Shorebirds Monday night, as Payano tossed 6 shutout innings to lead the 'Dads to an 8-1 win over the 'Birds at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
Payano, 20, joined the Crawdads after beginning the year in the Dominican Summer League before moving up to the Arizona League for 8 appearances. The 6'2" right-hander looked right at home in his first South Atlantic League start, as he tied a career-high with 6 shutout innings on five hits, no walks, and five strikeouts. The dominant work on the mound was complimented by an 8-run performance by the Hickory hitters, who plated 4 runs in the 4th, one in the 7th, and 3 in the 8th to give the 'Dads the comfortable 8-1 win.
Over the first three innings of the game Delmarva starter Brian Gonzalez matched Payano zero for zero, with the Crawdads bats held without a hit while the Shorebirds lineup was shutout on just one hit. The 'Dads broke through in the 4th, with eight batters combining to score four runs, one earned, on three hits, one walk, and a Delmarva error to take a 4-0 lead. Jose Cardona started the rally with a leadoff double to left before Josh Morgan laid down a sacrifice bunt that was thrown away by 'Birds third baseman Derek Peterson allowing Cardona to score and Morgan to reach second base. Following a walk by Edwin Garcia, Jose Trevino plated the frame's second run with an RBI single to left that brought home Morgan. Three batters later, Xavier Turner capped off the big inning with a 2-out, 2-RBI single to left to put Hickory up by 4.
The Crawdads added on to their lead in the 7th when Carlos Arroyo plated Turner on an RBI base knock to right for a 5-0 'Dads lead. Hickory then blew the game open with three more runs on three hits in the 8th to take an 8-0 advantage. A Morgan single and Garcia walked started the inning before a one-out, RBI double by Luke Tendler drove in the first tally. From there, Jairo Beras chipped in with an RBI single while Turner brought in the final run with an RBI sacrifice fly to right.
The Shorebirds avoided the shutout with their lone run of the night in the 8th against Hickory reliever Adam Dian, but Dian recovered with a perfect 9th inning to close out the game with the 'Dads 8-1 victory.
Turner paced the Crawdads offensive attack with a 2-3 game including 3 RBI and one run scored. Morgan also finished with a multi-hit night going 2-3 with a walk and a run scored, while Beras' 1-4 contest with an RBI extended his hitting streak to 14 consecutive games.
Payano (1-0) earned the win for the 'Dads with his shutout performance, while Gonzalez took the loss for Delmarva after allowing four runs, one earned, on four hits, one walk, and six strikeouts over his 6 innings pitched. Dian (1) recorded the save with one run allowed over three innings pitched.
The Crawdads (65-40/21-16) and Shorebirds (54-51/21-16) are now tied for 2nd place in the second half Northern Division standings, five games behind first place West Virginia. The two clubs will match up again Tuesday night for game two of the 3-game series, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.
• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...
South Atlantic League Stories from August 4, 2015
- Delmarva Squeaks Past Hickory, 5-4 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Tourists rally in eighth to drop Intimidators - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- RiverDogs Even Series with 7-2 Win - Hagerstown Suns
- Tough Night at the Yard, Rome Falls 20-3 - Rome Emperors
- RiverDogs Offense Heats up in 7-2 Win over Suns - Charleston RiverDogs
- Legends Win 5-2 in Rain-Shortened Game - Lexington Legends
- Drive Come Back to Defeat Power, 3-2 - Greenville Drive
- Greenville Storms back to Topple Power - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Game-Winning Harris Bunt Single Wins It for BlueClaws - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- GreenJackets to Induct Madison Bumgarner into Hall of Fame on August 7th - Augusta GreenJackets
- Legends to Visit Growing Together Preschool Wednesday - Lexington Legends
- WV Power Game Notes: August 4, 2015 vs. Greenville - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Means Named SAL Pitcher of the Week - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Clemson's Erwin Joins Intimidators; Almonte Promoted to Dash - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Profar Named SAL Player of the Week - Hickory Crawdads
- Columbia Fireflies are Ready to Play Ball - Columbia Fireflies
- Power team up with famed track for Bristol Motor Speedway Night - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Payano Leads 'Dads to Win in Debut - Hickory Crawdads
- Asheville Just Scored Again; Tourists Win by 20 Runs - Asheville Tourists
- Augusta Holds on for 16-14 Win as Teams Combine for 44 Hits - Lexington Legends
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
