Bloop Single Gives 'Dads 4-3 Win in 10
Published on July 2, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Hickory, NC - The Hickory Crawdads completed an improbable comeback for an unlikely win Wednesday night, as the 'Dads scored single runs in the 8th and 9th innings to force extras before Rock Shoulders delivered a 2-out, 2-RBI single in the 10th for a walk-off 4-3 victory over the Greenville Drive at L.P. Frans Stadium.
The Crawdads entered the 8th inning facing a shutout and trailing the Drive 2-0. The 'Dads rallied for one run in the 8th on an RBI single by Josh Morgan and tied the game in the 9th with an RBI fielder's choice from Shoulders to deadlock the score at 2-2 and send it to extra innings. Greenville jumped ahead in the top of the frame with a leadoff solo home run by All-Star Rafael Devers to re-take the lead at 3-2, but Shoulders came through for Hickory again in the bottom of the 10th with a bloop single that dropped in-between three defenders in shallow left field to score two runs and give the Crawdads the 4-3 victory.
The victory was the third straight for the 'Dads and improved the team's record to a perfect 7-0 in extra inning games in 2015. The walk-off win also marked the 8th such victory for Hickory this season.
Both teams were kept off the scoreboard over the first three innings before the Drive broke through against Crawdads starter Nick Gardewine in the 4th with back-to-back 2-out, RBI doubles by Javier Guerra and Joseph Monge to put Greenville on top 2-0. The score would hold until the 8th, with Drive starter Reed Reilly tossing 6.2 shutout innings while Hickory reliever Kelvin Vasquez kept his club in the game by throwing 3.2 scoreless frames with four strikeouts.
The 'Dads finally broke through in the 8th, when Jose Cardona led off the inning with a walk, advanced on a single from Carlos Arroyo, and came home with an RBI base knock by Morgan to cut the deficit to 2-1. After a scoreless top of the 9th courtesy of Hickory reliever Scott Williams, the Crawdads completed the comeback in the home half of the frame when Luke Tendler tripled to right and came home on Shoulder's RBI groundout to tie the score at 2-2.
Devers' solo shot off of Williams sent the 'Dads back to the plate trailing 3-2 in the 10th. Morgan started the rally with a leadoff single, but one out later the game appeared to be over when Jose Trevino hit a hard ground ball to short for a potential double play. Greenville shortstop Deiner Lopez bobbled the ball however, and was only able to record the out and first. With Morgan at second and two outs, the Drive intentionally walked Tendler before issuing a regular walk to pinch hitter Michael De Leon to load the bases with 2 outs. Shoulder followed by looping a 2-2 pitch into shallow left field, with the ball nicking off of Devers' glove and falling to the grass for the game ending, 2-RBI hit.
Williams (3-0) earned the win with one run allowed on one hit and 5 strikeouts over 2 innings pitched. Greenville closer Ryan Harris (0-1) took the loss after allowing the two 10th inning runs on two his and two walks.
Shoulders finished the night 1-4 with 3 RBI and a walk to lead the club. Morgan ended the game 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored, Arroyo went 2-5, and Juremi Profar finished 2-4.
The Crawdads (48-27/4-3) and Drive (41-36/3-4) will battle again on Thursday night at 7:00 pm for game three of the four-game series.
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