Crawdads Move into 1st Place with 4-1 Win
Published on July 15, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, N.C. - The Hickory Crawdads claimed sole possession of first place in the Northern Division Second Half standings with a 4-1 victory against the Charleston RiverDogs, before 3,355 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park on Wednesday evening.
The Crawdads (12-7, 45-43) came out swinging against LHP Manny Banuelos (7-4), who just rejoined the RiverDogs (8-12, 47-43) from the Futures Game in St. Louis. CF Jared Bolden reached base on a fielder's choice after 2B Mike Hollander led off the frame with a single. Bolden then swiped second base and moved to third on a passed ball. C Chase Weems tried to recover after the passed ball by attempting to throw Bolden out at third, but he fired it high into left field, enabling Bolden to score on the error. With two away and the bases clear, 3B Matt West extended the inning by working a two-out walk, and then C Doug Hogan went yard to straight away center field with a two-run homer, making it 3-0. Hogan has now hit 12 long-balls on the season, and five since being activated from the disabled list on July 8.
RHP Wilmer Font (6-1) produced his third consecutive scoreless start, lasting a season-high 5.2 innings and only allowing a pair of hits, with three walks and four strikeouts. RHP Cody Eppley inherited a couple of runners on with RF Melky Mesa at the plate and two outs in the fifth. A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third, before a walk to Mesa loaded the bases. However, Eppley dug in and induced a fly out to center off the bat of DH Garrison Lassiter to end the inning in scoreless fashion.
Hickory added a tally to the lead with a run against RHP Brad Rulon in the top of the eighth. 3B Matt West was hit by a pitch to start the frame and quickly stole his way to second base. With two outs later in the inning, C Leonel De Los Santos lined a pitch back up the middle to bring in West with an RBI single and put Hickory ahead, 4-0.
RHP Tyler Tufts, who dealt a three-up, three-down inning in the eighth, retook the mound for the bottom of the ninth, looking to slam the door on the RiverDogs. Charleston managed a run against Tufts, but that would be all, with the game ending on a groundout completed by West with a great pick by Morrison at first, closing the 4-1 victory for Hickory. Font earned the win for the Crawdads, while Banuelos was tagged with the loss for Charleston.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 15, 2009
- Strikeouts Power Augusta's Third Straight Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Hickory Docks Charleston, 4-1 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds Top Legends, 3-1 - Lexington Legends
- Crawdads Move into 1st Place with 4-1 Win - Hickory Crawdads
- Rome Wins a Wild Wednesday Affair with Greensboro - Rome Emperors
- Tourists Explode in Ninth for Fourth Straight - Asheville Tourists
- GreenJackets Pound Power - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Drive Take Advantage of Early Walks for 4-1 Win - Greenville Drive
- Offense stymied in 3-1 loss to Gnats - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- 'Claws Home Thru Monday, BRUCEClaws, Gold Party, much more! - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Cardiac Claws Win in Ninth - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Drive Jumps on Frias Early in Suns Loss - Hagerstown Suns
- Dine With Amos Zereoue at Appalachian Power Park - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Charity Dinner with Amos Zereoue - Charleston Dirty Birds
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