Crawdads can't overcome strong pitching performance
June 12, 2008 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Hickory starter Bradley Clapp delivered a gem of a start Thursday at L.P. Frans Stadium, but the Crawdads bats mustered just one run in losing their eighth straight game, 4-1. Clapp, who in his last start pitched just 2/3 of an inning before a single-inning pitch count knocked him out, turned in a 7-inning performance, allowing two runs on five hits while walking none and striking out five.
But as has plagued the right-hander all season, Hickory (28-39) put forth little in terms of offense behind him, scoring just one run on 10 hits and stranding 13 runners.
Greenville (39-28) struck first on savvy baserunning in the third inning. After Manny Arambarris reached on a two-out single and Che-Hsuan Lin
Greenville would later tack on a run courtesy of Luis Exposito's solo homer in the fourth and extend its lead in the top of the ninth inning on a two-run shot from Exposito, his third big fly of the series.
Hickory trimmed the Greenville advantage to as little as one run when Miles Durham delivered an RBI groundout in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 2-1 game. But Exposito's dagger over the left-center field fence spelled eventual doom for the 'Dads.
Clapp took the loss despite his season-best effort, dropping to 0-6. His 7 innings matched a team season high -- joining Dustin Molleken's seven frames against Augusta on April 23 and Rafael De Los Santos' seven May 15 at Columbus -- and his five punchouts matched his personal season best. Michael Felix joined Clapp to pitch two relief innings, the only hit allowed being Exposito's second home run.
Starter Jose Alvarez improved to 4-8 on the year in taking the win for the Drive, throwing five scoreless innings on six hits, two walks and six strikeouts. Kyle Fernandes pitched two scoreless innings to notch his first save of the year.
Hickory has now lost eight straight games, extending its season-worst run. The 'Dads have also dropped 16 of their last 18 games and the series marked the fourth time an opponent has swept Hickory this season.
With its win, Greenville continued its dominant road play this season, improving its record away from home to 27-8 -- the best mark in all of Minor League Baseball. The Drive have also won 13 of 15 overall.
Hickory next welcomes Asheville for a three-game set beginning Friday night to finish the first half of the season. The Crawdads will have the chance to play spoiler, considering the Tourists will enter the series clinging to a one-game lead for the Southern Division's first-half championship.
RHP Duke Welker (1-3, 4.21 ERA) will take the hill for Hickory against RHP Cory Riordan (6-4, 2.74 ERA) for Asheville.
GAME NOTES: Game time was 2:40. Attendance was 3,179. ...Hickory has scored just 10 total runs during the 42.1 innings Bradley Clapp has thrown this season. ...With the loss, the Crawdads dropped to 5-5 in Thursday games. The only day of the week on which Hickory owns a winning record is Friday at 5-4. ...Albert Laboy knocked two more hits for the 'Dads. He now has 12 hits in his first nine games with the club. ...Hickory -- whose offense entered the game having struck out the second-fewest times in the league -- went down on Ks 12 times Thursday.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 12, 2008
- Legends take fourth straight - Lexington Legends
- Captains magic number down to two - Lake County Captains
- Braves chewed out by RiverDogs - Rome Emperors
- Augusta takes key series from Tourists - Asheville Tourists
- Crawdads can't overcome strong pitching performance - Hickory Crawdads
- Drive win again; now won 13 of 15 - Greenville Drive
- Gnats claim walk-off winner - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Grasshoppers take fifth straight - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- 'Jackets take rubber game - Augusta GreenJackets
- Suns drop close one to Captains - Hagerstown Suns
- 'Power'less against the Grasshoppers - Charleston Dirty Birds
- BlueClaws blanked in loss - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Shorebirds drop Lakewood - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Intimidators fall to Legends in series opener - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Cipriano Activated from Disabled List - Columbus Catfish
- Catfish Hosting Military Appreciation Night, Father's Day Catch - Columbus Catfish
- Hoppers to Unveil MegaMascot at Friday Press Conference - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Augusta and Asheville Split Double-Header - Augusta GreenJackets
- Tip-A-GreenJacket Luncheon Big Success at Stonecrest - Augusta GreenJackets
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