Bullpen Back Bashers in 'Dads 9-4 Win
Published on May 26, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Hickory, NC - The Hickory Crawdads followed a familiar formula to record their fourth straight win Tuesday night, as the 'Dads bats recorded double digit hits to support 5.2 scoreless innings of relief by the Hickory bullpen in a 9-4 win over the Delmarva Shorebirds at L.P. Frans Stadium.
A resurgent Crawdads lineup posted more than 10 hits and 8 runs for the fourth consecutive night, and have now plated 37 total runs on 51 combined hits during the team's current winning streak. Leading the pack was shortstop Michael De Leon, who tied career highs in hits and RBIs with a 4-5 game including 3 RBIs and a double. The 'Dads bullpen meanwhile shutdown Delmarva from the middle of the 4th inning on, as Adam Parks and John Fasola combined to strike out 10 batters.
Hickory wasted no time in jumping out to a lead against Shorebirds starter Sebastian Vader, as leadoff hitter Jose Cardona singled, stole second base, and came in on an ensuing RBI single by De Leon for a 1-0 advantage two batters into the night. Vader would exit the game with an injury after the first inning, giving way to reliever Zeke McGranahan who fared no better against the 'Dads. The first three batters of the 2nd reached on walks before Tripp Martin lined an RBI single to left and Cardona drove in a run with an RBI groundout. Two more runners would score on throwing errors in the frame for a 5-0 'Dads lead, while McGranahan would fail to get out of the frame before leaving with an injury of his own.
Delmarva got themselves back in the game in the 4th, scoring four runs, three earned, on four hits, a walk, and a throwing error to cut the score to 5-4. Hickory starter Luis Ortiz breezed through the first four frames of the game but would fail to escape the 4th, with Parks allowing an RBI single before inducing an inning-ending double play to preserve the Crawdads lead.
Parks would go on to toss 3.2 shutout innings, with the right-hander striking out five consecutive batters before finishing with a career high 7 Ks. Parks came back out to start the 8th, but a leadoff walk prompted 'Dads manager Corey Ragsdale to bring in Fasola for a 6-out save. The Shorebirds would eventually load the bases with two outs in the frame, but Fasola struck out the final batter to escape the jam with Hickory still on top.
The Crawdads bats provided the pen with some extra wiggle room in the bottom of the inning, with the club scoring four more runs, three earned, on three hits, a hit batter, a walk, and an error to push the lead to 9-4. Cardona came through again with an RBI single, while De Leon provided the crushing blow with a bases-loaded, 2-RBI double that also plated a third run on a Delmarva throwing error.
Fasola finished the game off from there with a perfect 9th inning to give the 'Dads the victory.
Parks (1-2) earned the win for his stellar relief work, while Fasola remained perfect in save opportunities while notching his league-leading 10th of the year. Vader (2-3) took the loss for Delmarva despite departing after the first inning.
Joining De Leon with a big night at the plate was Cardona who went 2-5 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored, while Travis Demeritte finished 2-3 with two doubles, a walk, and two runs scored.
The Crawdads (31-14) will go for the 3-game sweep of the Shorebirds (22-23) in the series finale Wednesday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 11:00 am.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 26, 2015
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- Shorebirds Battle Injuries in 9-4 Defeat - Delmarva Shorebirds
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