Crawdads Walk-Off Again to Sweep the Power, 7-6
Published on June 3, 2012 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, NC - The Hickory Crawdads completed the series sweep of the West Virginia Power and won their seventh straight game with a walk-off victory, 7-6, before 1,559 fans at L.P. Frans Stadium on Sunday evening . 3B Drew Robinson, who drove in the game-winning run with a single on Saturday, was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth tonight, forcing in the game-winning tally for the second straight game.
The Power (18-39) opened the scoring with a pair of runs against RHP Victor Payano and the 'Dads in the top of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Payano got 3B Chris Lashmet to ground into a double play, though it did score CF Greg Polanco from third for the 1-0 lead. After the twin-killing, the only runner left on was 1B Jose Osuna at third base, who was then brought home by an RBI base hit from LF Willy Garcia for the 2-0 lead.
The Crawdads (30-25) erased the deficit right away in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one down, RF Chris Grayson reached on an error charged to RHP Robby Rowland. One out later, DH Hanser Alberto joined Grayson on the bases with a single. A wild pitch advanced both runners ninety feet, before they both came racing home on a two-run single by Robinson, tying the game. CF Jordan Akins then belted the 'Dads in front with an RBI triple that plated Robinson and made it 3-2.
Hickory added a run on an RBI ground out by C Kevin Torres in the sixth, and then tacked on two more tallies in the bottom of the seventh inning. 1B Jhonny Gomez started the stanza with a walk, before racing to third base on a single from SS Luis Sardinas. After a ground out moved Sardinas to second base, LF Zach Cone hit a grounder to third base that led to two runs coming home. Gomez darted in from third base on the ground ball and was followed by Sardinas, who flew home from second base when 3B Chris Lashmet misplayed the grounder, stretching the lead to 6-2.
However, for the second straight game, West Virginia refused to go down quietly. A two-run homer by Osuna in the eighth inning cut the deficit to 6-4, before the Power extended the game with another comeback in the top of the ninth. Consecutive singles started the inning against LHP Chris Hanna (W, 1-0), before Hanna struck out the next two batters. With the runners at second and third after a wild pitch, Hanna got two strikes against Polanco, but the Power center fielder lined a two-run single to right field, tying the game at 6-6.
The Crawdads had an immediate answer in the bottom of the ninth inning against LHP Mike Jefferson (L, 2-4). Sardinas worked a leadoff walk to begin the inning and quickly moved to second base on a bunt single by Grayson. A walk drawn by Cone loaded the bases with no outs, but Jefferson got Alberto to pop out to shallow left field, keeping all three runners from advancing. Robinson then stepped up to the plate and was quickly hit by a pitch, forcing in the game-winning run in the 7-6 walk-off victory.
Crawdads Clippings:
The Crawdads host the Kannapolis Intimidators on Monday at 11 a.m. for Education Day, presented by Sylvan Learning Center! Monday will also feature the Businessperson's Special, so bring a business card to the Ticket Office for a discounted $5 Box Seat Ticket! Gates open at 10 a.m.
Monday's game will be broadcast live only on Hickorycrawdads.com, starting with Crawdads Countdown at 10:45 a.m.
Get Tickets:
Individual Tickets for all Crawdads home games are available right now at Hickorycrawdads.com or by calling (828) 322-3000! Group outings, corporate partnerships, Levine Children's Hospital Claw Club memberships and Ticket Books for the 20th Anniversary Season are also available right now by calling the Front Office at (828) 322-3000 .
South Atlantic League Stories from June 3, 2012
- Crawdads Walk-Off Again to Sweep the Power, 7-6 - Hickory Crawdads
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