Crawdads Fall 5-4 in Extras to End Homestand
Published on May 27, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
The Rome Braves hit two more home runs, Hickory dropped another tight game and the Crawdads head into an off-day with a 5-4 defeat in 10 innings. Hickory (27-26) tied the game on three separate occasions before finally falling to Rome (18-33) in a Tuesday morning start, with first pitch coming at 11 at L.P. Frans Stadium.
After Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman launched a two-run home run off the scoreboard in right-center field in the first inning, the 'Dads marched right back with runs in the first and third frames courtesy of an Erik Huber RBI double and Austin McClune RBI single.
Rome took its lead back with a run in the top of the fourth, but Hickory responded immediately when Matt Cavaganaro doubled in Keanon Simon to knot the game up again at 3-3.
A line-drive home run off the bat of Jason Heyward cleared the right field fence for Rome in the sixth inning, retaking the lead at 4-3.
It was Heyward's second home run of the series, as was Freeman's for him in the first inning. Heyward finished the game 4-for-5 with a homer, double and three runs. He and Freeman were two of five Braves to hit two home runs in the series, as Rome totaled 10 long balls in the four games against Hickory.
The Crawdads continued to fight, though, tying the game at 4-4 in the eighth on a Bobby Spain RBI single.
Spain, who also finished 3-for-5, extended his team-high hitting streak to 18 games, the longest active hitting streak in the league and the third-best run in the South Atlantic League this season.
But in the top of the 10th inning, Rome took the lead for good, when Freeman singled in Carlos Lee from third base with two outs for the go-ahead run.
Hickory did place runners at the corners with one out in its half of the 10th but a strikeout and force out at second base ended the threat and the game.
Cory Gearrin took the win for Rome, his second of the season and both coming in the series. He threw a scoreless 9th and 10th innings to improve to 2-1.
Tom Boleska dropped to 2-2 on the year with the loss, allowing the deciding run in the 10th. Otherwise, Boleska finished with two innings, allowing two hits and a pair of walks against one strikeout.
The Crawdads finished their homestand at 4-4, dropping to 3-2 in extra inning games, while the Braves improved to 2-3 in bonus baseball. Hickory has also now gone 0-3 in games started noon or earlier, while its record in one-run games dropped to 9-9.
For the fourth time in four games, both offenses reached double-digit hits. Hickory finished with 48 hits in the four games, while Rome tallied 49.
An off-day Wednesday ends a string of 16 games in 16 days for the Crawdads, who will next play Thursday night at the Charleston RiverDogs in game one of a four-game series.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:05, with Hickory's Brad Lincoln in search of his third win in three starts against Charleston's Noel Castillo.
Keep up with the all action with the Crawdads on the road as Mike Janela delivers the play-by-play on The Big Dawg (WMNC) 92.1 FM and live streaming on www.hickorycrawdads.com.
GAME NOTES: Game time was 3:21. Attendance was 3,289. ...It was the third time in the four-game series the teams played beyond 3 hours. The only time they didn't was game three, when they played 2 hours, 58 minutes. ...The crowd was the third largest of the year at home for Hickory, fueled by 21 school groups on hand for Education Day. ...With the exception of a 14-2 Hickory win May 17 and Rome's 14-10 victory Sunday, the other six games played between the teams this season have all been decided by two runs or fewer. ...Starting pitchers Jose Ortegano (7) of Rome and Duke Welker (6) of Hickory combined for 13 strikeouts against zero walks. ...The Crawdads and Braves won't meet again until a four-game series in Hickory on August 2-5.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 27, 2008
- Captains Throw Second Shutout in Three Games - Lake County Captains
- Drive Come Alive, Win Series Finale 8-2 - Greenville Drive
- Augusta Shutout at Home by RiverDogs - Augusta GreenJackets
- John Smoltz to Pitch in Rome Thursday - Rome Emperors
- RiverDogs Place Betances, Williams on DL - Charleston RiverDogs
- Hoppers Hit Stonger - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Late Homer Dooms Birds, 'Hoppers Take Finale 6-4 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Crawdads Fall 5-4 in Extras to End Homestand - Hickory Crawdads
- Tourists Rally to Win 2-1 on Education Day - Asheville Tourists
- Intimidators Walk-Off With 10-9 Win Over Hagerstown in 11 Innings - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Suns Waste Early Lead, Lose in Extra Innings - Hagerstown Suns
- Winn Drives in Winner in 6-5 Victory Over West Virginia - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Wilson Drives in Four, Power Lose - Charleston Dirty Birds
- RiverDogs Final Eight-Game Homestand of First Half Starts May 29 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Catfish Hosting Fireworks Night, Blood Drive, Camp Day - Columbus Catfish
- Captains to Give Away a Funeral - Lake County Captains
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