Bats Held at Bay in 3-1 'Dads Defeat
Published on May 26, 2016 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Deivi Grullon of the Greensboro Grasshoppers Tags out a Hickory Crawdads Baserunner
(Hickory Crawdads)
Hickory, NC - The Hickory Crawdads' recent struggles at the plate continued Thursday night in their first game against the Greensboro Grasshoppers, as the 'Dads received good performances from both starting pitcher Wes Benjamin and reliever Blake Bass only to lose the 'Hoppers 3-1 at L.P. Frans Stadium.
Benjamin and Bass combined to hold Greensboro to 1 run on 5 hits and 7 strikeouts over 8 solid innings of work. That bought the Crawdads a tie game thanks to a solo home run from LeDarious Clark in the 3rd. The Grasshoppers finally broke through for 2 runs against Joe Palumbo in the top of the 9th however, before the 'Dads stranded the tying runners in scoring position in the bottom of the frame resulting in the 3-1 defeat.
Hickory's southpaw starter began the night retiring the first 7 batters he faced before Zach Sullivan doubled inside the third base bag and came in to score on a 2-out, RBI single from Anfernee Seymour for a 1-0 Greensboro lead in the 3rd. The Crawdads quickly responded in the bottom of the inning when Clark crushed the first pitch of the frame over the left field fence for a solo homer and a 1-1 tie.
That score would hold all the way until the 9th, as Benjamin finished with 1 run allowed on 3 hits, 1 walk, and 6 strikeouts over 5 innings while Bass followed with 3 shutout frames on 2 hits and 1 K.
'Dads manager Steve Mintz then turned the ball over to the normally dominant Palumbo in the 9th, and the lefty reliever responded with 2 strikeouts and 2 walks over the first four batters before allowing consecutive 2-out, RBI singles from Roy Morales and Justin Twine for a 3-1 'Hoppers lead. The Crawdads attempted a 9th inning rally of their own when Andy Ibanez drew a leadoff walk and Dylan Moore lined a 1-out double to right to put the tying runs in scoring position with one out. Grasshoppers' closer C.J. Robinson bounced back with back-to-back strikeouts of Eduard Pinto and Clark however to end the game.
Palumbo (3-2) took the loss for Hickory with 2 runs allowed on 2 hits, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts over 1 inning pitched. Greensboro reliever Jeff Kinley (3-2) earned the win after working around 3 walks in 2 scoreless IP, while Robinson (9) recorded the save.
Clark finished the game 1-4 with his 4th homer of the year, while Moore went 2-3 with a double and a walk. Eric Jenkins also reached base safely multiple times, going 1-3 with a walk and his league-leading 24th steal of the season.
The Crawdads (28-19) will try to get back in the win column in game 2 vs. the Grasshoppers (22-25) Friday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 pm.
Images from this story
 Deivi Grullon of the Greensboro Grasshoppers Tags out a Hickory Crawdads Baserunner |
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