3-Run 1st Stands up for 'Dads in 3-1 Win
May 24, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Hickory, NC - The Hickory Crawdads jumped on the visiting Rome Braves for 3 runs on 5 hits in the 1st inning and cruised the rest of the way Tuesday night, as 'Dads hurlers Jonathan Hernandez, Matt Ball, and John Werner made the early offense hold up for a 3-1 win at L.P. Frans Stadium.
The Crawdads wasted no time in attacking Braves starting pitcher Max Fried in the opening frame, as Dylan Moore, Andy Ibanez, Tyler Sanchez, and Eduard Pinto roped 4 consecutive one-out singles before Ti'Quan Forbes capped the inning with a 2-out, RBI base knock for a 3-0 Hickory lead. That was all the 'Dads pitching trio would need, as Hernandez and company held Rome to 1 run on 6 hits.
Hernandez (5-3) led the way, going 6 innings with 1 run allowed on 6 hits, 1 walk, and 5 strikeouts en route to earning the win. The only time the Braves reached the Hickory starter was in the 5th, when Leudys Baez singled to left and Yeudi Grullon doubled to right before Ray-Patrick Didder drove in the only Rome run on an RBI groundout that made the score 3-1.
Ball took over in the 6th with 2 hitless innings of relief, while Werner (3) earned the save with a perfect 9th inning to close out the 3-1 win. Fried (2-3) finished with a quality start for the Braves but still took the loss with 3 runs given up on 6 hits, 3 walks, and 4 Ks over 6 IP.
Eight of the 9 Crawdads batters finished with at least one hit in the 9-single performance, led by Ibanez who went 2-4 with 2 stolen bases and a run scored. Moore also swiped 2 bags while going 1-2 with 2 walks and a run scored. Sanchez (1-4, RBI, R), Pinto (1-3, RBI, BB), and Forbes (1-3, RBI) all finished the night with one hit and an RBI apiece.
The win marks the second time this season that Hickory has scored 3 runs in the 1st to defeat the Braves 3-1, as the 'Dads pulled the same trick in Rome on May 5th.
The Crawdads (28-17) will go for the series win against the Braves (17-28) in the rubber match Wednesday morning, with first pitch scheduled for 10:30 am.
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