SAL1 Hickory Crawdads

Crawdads Breakout in 9-4 Win

Published on September 3, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release


Hickory, NC - The Hickory Crawdads returned home and used the friendly confines of L.P. Frans Stadium to snap out of their skid Thursday night, as the 'Dads erased a 2-run deficit with a 7-run rally in the 8th to launch themselves to a 9-4 win over the visiting Rome Braves.

The Crawdads entered the game on a 5-game losing streak in which the team had scored 5 total runs. The first 7 innings of the contest appeared to be more of the same, as the 'Dads bats were held to two runs on five hits over the first 6 innings but remained close thanks to the solid pitching of All-Star Collin Wiles. Hickory broke through at the plate in the bottom of the 8th however, when the bats erupted for 7 runs on 7 hits to turn a 2-run hole into a 5-run advantage and an eventual 9-4 victory.

The 7-run outburst is tied for the largest single inning by the Crawdads this season, with the two home runs hit in the frame also tying a single-inning best.

The majority of the night was a close, well-pitched contest between the 'Dads and Braves. Rome staked themselves to the initial lead in the 2nd on an RBI groundout by Leudys Baez, but Hickory quickly responded in the 3rd with a 2-out, RBI single from rehabbing major leaguer Jurickson Profar to tie the score at 1-1.

The Braves re-took the advantage with the help of the long ball, as both Braxton Davidson and Luis Valenzuela lined solo home runs in the 4th and 5th frames respectively to put Rome back on top 3-2. The Crawdads narrowed the deficit with a solo homer of their own by Carlos Arroyo in the 6th, but the Braves answered in the top of the 8th with an error by Wiles and an RBI single from Jordan Edgerton to once again stretch the Rome lead to two runs at 4-2.

That set the stage for the 'Dads 8th inning rally, an inning that began with a routine groundout to short by Juremi Profar. Eduard Pinto followed and began a streak of six consecutive Hickory hits when he roped a solo blast to right field to put the club down 4-3. Arroyo, Jonathan Meyer, and Chuck Moorman all followed with singles, before a balk by Braves reliever Taylor Cockrell brought in Arroyo and tied the score at 4-4. The Crawdads kept their foot on the gas from there, with an RBI double from Eric Jenkins and a 2-RBI single by Jurickson Profar. One out later, Luke Tendler capped off the monster inning with a 2-run homer off the scoreboard in right center field to give the 'Dads the 9-4 lead they would win by.

All nine Hickory hitters reached base safely at least once, with Jurickson Profar leading the way with a 3-5 night including 3 RBI. Tendler finished 2-4 with his 14th home run of the year, 2 RBI, and a walk, Arroyo went 2-4 with a homer, one RBI and two runs scored, and Pinto had a 1-4 game with a home run, RBI, run scored, and a sacrifice bunt.

'Dads reliever Scott Williams (5-0) earned the win with 1.2 perfect innings out of the bullpen, while Cockrell (1-1) took the loss for Rome with 7 runs allowed on 7 hits and two strikeouts over 1.1 IP. Wiles finished the game with a no-decision after tying a career-high with 7.1 IP in which he allowed four runs, three earned, on 9 hits and three strikeouts.

The Crawdads (78-56/34-32) and Braves (57-79/26-40) will match up again Friday night in game two of the 5-game series, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 pm.

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South Atlantic League Stories from September 3, 2015


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