7-Run 7th Inning Lifts 'Dads to 8-3 Win
June 4, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Hickory Crawdads Celebrate a Run
(Hickory Crawdads)
Lakewood, NJ - The Hickory Crawdads' offense was able to shake off their recent struggles with a breakout inning Friday night, as the 'Dads bats erupted for 7 runs in the 7th inning to power the club to an 8-3 win over the Lakewood BlueClaws at FirstEnergy Park.
The Crawdads entered the 7th on the wrong end of a 3-0 shutout and with only one hit on the night. The game completely changed in the half inning however, with 12 'Dads batters stepping to the plate and producing 7 runs on 7 hits for a 7-3 lead. The offensive explosion tied the Crawdads' biggest inning of the year and produced more runs than the team's last 4 games combined.
The victory gave Hickory back-to-back wins for the first time since May 16th & 17th in Lexington, while also leapfrogged the Crawdads past the Delmarva Shorebirds for 2nd place in the South Atlantic League Northern Division, 4 games back of 1st place Hagerstown.
The game began with the BlueClaws slowly building a 3-0 advantage with single runs in the 1st, 3rd, and 6th innings. The 'Claws got to 'Dads starting pitcher Dillon Tate in the opening inning with a leadoff double by Emmanuel Marrero followed two outs later by an RBI double from Wilson Garcia for a 1-0 Lakewood lead. The BlueClaws doubled the score to 2-0 in the 3rd when Josh Tobias was hit by a pitch with two outs, stole second base, moved to third on a throwing error by catcher Tyler Sanchez, and scored on a wild pitch from Tate.
Lakewood stretched their advantage to 3-0 and chased Tate from the game in the 6th, when Jiandido Tromp connected on a solo home run to left center field with 2 outs.
The Crawdads' decisive 7th inning began with an out, as Sanchez struck out against 'Claws reliever Skylar Hunter. Dylan Moore followed with a single to left and was able to move to third base on a two-base throwing error by Hunter on a pickoff throw. Eduard Pinto got the 'Dads on the board with an RBI single to left to cut the score to 3-1.
Ti'Quan Forbes followed with a walk to put two runners on before Josh Altmann laced an opposite field, 2-RBI triple to right that scored both Pinto and Forbes to tie the game at 3-3. Lakewood brought in right-handed reliever Jacob Waguespack to try to stop the rally, but Yeyson Yrizarri greeted the new hurler by lining the first pitch he saw into right field for an RBI double and a 4-3 Hickory lead.
The surge continued from there, as Eric Jenkins lined an RBI triple to dead center field, Chris Garia roped an RBI single to left, and Andy Ibanez came through with an RBI base knock to center to cap off the monster frame and give the Crawdads a 7-3 advantage.
The 'Dads tacked on one last run in the top of the 9th when Jenkins laced his second triple of the night to right before coming home two batters later on an RBI single to left by Ibanez for the final 8-3 score.
Eight of the 9 Crawdads batters finished the game reaching base safely at least once, while seven hitters recorded a hit and 6 picked up an RBI. Both Ibanez (2-5, 2 RBI) and Altmann (1-4, 3B, 2 RBI, R) finished with multi-RBI games, while Jenkins went 2-5 with 2 triples, 2 runs scored, and an RBI and Garia completed the game 2-4 with a triple, one RBI, a run scored, and two stolen bases.
Hickory reliever Omarlin Lopez (4-1) earned the win with 1.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, while Hunter (0-1) took the loss in his SAL debut after giving up 4 runs on 3 hits, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts.
Tate received a no-decision for his work, as the 'Dads starter went 5.2 innings with 3 runs allowed, 2 earned, on 7 hits, one walk, and 8 Ks.
The Crawdads (31-23) will go for the 3-game sweep over the BlueClaws (20-34) in the series finale Saturday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.
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 Hickory Crawdads Celebrate a Run |
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- Fireflies Game Notes: June 4 vs. Hagerstown (Game 56) - Columbia Fireflies
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- 7-Run 7th Inning Lifts 'Dads to 8-3 Win - Hickory Crawdads
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