Crawdads Drop Series Finale to Drive
June 20, 2010 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, NC - The Hickory Crawdads couldn't hold on to a late lead, dropping the series finale to the Greenville Drive, 11-8, before 1,616 fans at L.P. Frans Stadium on Father's Day Sunday evening. The 'Dads finish the first half with a record of 40-30, two games behind the first-place Lakewood BlueClaws in the Northern Division.
Hickory (40-30) got in front early with four runs in the bottom of the second against Drive starter LHP Drake Britton. LF Cristian Santana and 3B Matt West led off with back-to-back doubles to bring in the first run. After West advanced on a wild pitch, 1B Mike Ortiz hit a one-out double to center to plate West. An RBI single by 2B Travis Adair and RBI groundout by SS Leury Garcia extended the Crawdads advantage to 4-0.
Greenville (36-34) got on the board in the fourth with a bases-loaded single by C Dan Butler, scoring SS Derrik Gibson from third to cut the 'Dads lead to 4-1. Hickory answered back with a run in the fifth. Garcia led off the inning with a single, stole second, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by RF Jared Prince. All-Star CF Miguel Velazquez then sent a sac fly out to center that allowed Garcia to come in and score, making it 5-1.
After Hickory and Greenville exchanged three runs apiece across the sixth and seventh innings, the Drive began their comeback push, down 8-4, heading into the eighth inning.
Greenville loaded the bases with none out in the eighth against Crawdads reliever RHP Hector Nelo. RHP Tyler Tufts (0-3, 9.82 ERA) was called upon to try to work out of the bases-loaded jam. LF Vladimir Frias blooped a fielder's choice to center to bring in Butler from third and 1B Christian Vazquez followed by reaching on a fielding error by 3B Matt West, with CF Reymond Fuentes scoring, to cut the 'Dads lead to 8-6.
The Drive added five more runs in the ninth to take the lead and the ballgame. Fuentes and Vazquez each singled in two runs in the inning.
Hickory All-Star starter RHP Matt Thompson pitched the first two scoreless innings in his final tune-up before the All-Star Game on Tuesday. Tufts was saddled with the loss, surrendering five runs (four earned) on two hits and a walk while striking out one in 1.1 innings. Greenville reliever RHP Chris Court (1-0, 4.20 ERA) picked up the win.
Crawdads Clippings:
The Crawdads head into the All-Star break with five players heading to Greenville, SC. LHP Robbie Ross, LHP Robbie Erlin, RHP Matt Thompson, RHP Trevor Hurley, and CF Miguel Velazquez will be representing the team along with Manager Bill Richardson, Pitching Coach Brad Holman, Hitting Coach Jason Hart, and Athletic Trainer Jeff Bodenhamer.
The 'Dads open the second-half of the season in Hagerstown with a five game series against the Suns beginning on Thursday, June 24. The team will return home on Tuesday, June 29 to host the Lexington Legends for five games, including two 4th of July Fireworks nights on June 2nd and 3rd. All tickets for June 2nd and 3rd are just $10!
• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...
South Atlantic League Stories from June 20, 2010
- Crawdads Drop Series Finale to Drive - Hickory Crawdads
- Gnats Win First Half Championship - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Jackets Fall Short as Gnats Clinch Crown - Augusta GreenJackets
- First Half Ends with 6-3 Loss to Lexington - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Suns Finish First Half with a Win - Hagerstown Suns
- Legends Take Final Game of Series over Delmarva, 6-3 - Lexington Legends
- Braves Sweep RiverDogs - Rome Emperors
- BlueClaws Stand Up to Intimidators, 6-3, Make Playoffs - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Rome Sweeps Charleston Again, 1-0 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Gnats Game Notes - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Intimidators to Campaign for Clean Air on June 25th - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Delmarva takes third straight over Legends, 7-1 - Lexington Legends
- Suns Hold on for Win over Power - Hagerstown Suns
- Power Drop 7-4 Decision to Suns - Charleston Dirty Birds
- 'Dads beat Drive, 9-5, Gain Ground in Division Race - Hickory Crawdads
- Braves Offense Comes Alive - Rome Emperors
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
