Crawdads Leave Lakewood with 5-3 Win
Published on June 7, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Lakewood, NJ - The Hickory Crawdads offense jumped on the Lakewood BlueClaws early and rode the pitching staff the rest of the way Sunday afternoon, as the 'Dads defeated the 'Claws 5-3 at FirstEnergy Park to leave town with a 4-game series split.
The Crawdads plated single runs in the 1st and 2nd innings, two tallies in the 3rd, and one final run in the 4th to build an early 5-0 lead that would last them the rest of the game. Eduard Pinto led the 'Dads attack, finishing 4-5 with a triple, RBI and run scored. The offensive output supported another solid outing by the league-leading Hickory pitching staff, which held Lakewood to a 3-run 6th inning while putting up zeroes in the contest's other eight frames.
The 'Dads production at the plate came against BlueClaws ace Ricardo Pinto, who entered the afternoon 5-1 with a 2.68 ERA and a .239 batting average against. Crawdads leadoff hitter Isiah Kiner-Falefa set the tone for the game on the very first pitch when he reached on an infield single. One out later, Pinto singled to left and Marcus Greene walked to load the bases for Luke Tendler, who drove in Kiner-Falefa with an RBI sacrifice fly for a 1-0 Hickory lead.
The advantage doubled for the 'Dads in the 2nd, when Jose Cardona lined a solo home run to left to put Hickory ahead 2-0. The Crawdads doubled their lead again the very next inning, with Greene driving home Pinto on an RBI triple to center field before coming in himself on an RBI base knock by Kevin Torres to put the 'Dads ahead 4-0.
The Crawdads capped off their early offensive barrage in the 4th when Cardona walked to lead off the frame before eventually scoring on an RBI single to left by Pinto that put the club on top 5-0.
Hickory starting pitcher Ariel Jurado was the benefactor of all the early support, as the 19-year-old escaped a bases loaded jam in the 1st with a double play ball that began a streak of 12 straight batters retired. Jurado left the game after tossing five scoreless innings and handed the ball over to reliever Kelvin Vasquez, who promptly allowed a walk, a single, and another walk to load the bases with nobody out in the 6th. The 'Dads turned to left-hander Joe Filomeno to minimize the damage, but all three inherited runners would score against the southpaw while he recorded two outs.
With runners on the corners and the potential go-ahead run at the plate for the 'Claws Hickory manager Corey Ragsdale turned to closer John Fasola to get the final out of the 6th, and the right-hander responded with a three-pitch strikeout to end the threat.
Fasola shut down the BlueClaws from that point on, as the Ohio native retired the final 10 batters in the game to give the 'Dads the 5-3 victory.
Jurado (8-0) earned the win for Hickory with six strikeouts over his five scoreless innings on the mound. Pinto (5-2) took the loss for Lakewood after allowing all 5 'Dads runs on seven hits, three walks, and four strikeouts over his four innings pitched. Fasola picked up his league-leading 11th save of the season with 3.1 scoreless innings of relief with 3 Ks.
The Crawdads (36-20) have an off day on Monday before returning to L.P. Frans Stadium for a weeklong home stand starting on Tuesday, June 9th against the Charleston RiverDogs.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 7, 2015
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- Five-Run First Propels Tourists to 5-2 Win - Asheville Tourists
- Shorebirds use two big innings to beat Iâ??s - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Delmarva Pours It on Late in Finale, 9-1 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Bullpen Throws Nine Scoreless Innings, R'Dogs Fall 5-2 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Crawdads Leave Lakewood with 5-3 Win - Hickory Crawdads
- Coley Hurls Power past Rome 4-3 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Sand Gnats Sweep Drive with 3-1 Win - Greenville Drive
- Gnats Complete Sweep of Drive 3-1 Sunday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Rome Falls to West Virginia, 4-3 - Rome Emperors
- Hickory Tops Claws 5-3 on Sunday at FirstEnergy Park - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Hoppers Wind up on Losing End, 3-2 - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Hoppers Flirt with No-Hitter, End with 6-1 Victory - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- WV Power Game Notes: June 7, 2015 at Rome - Charleston Dirty Birds
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