Crawdads Walk off with 8-7 Win
Published on June 4, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Hickory, NC - Less than a week after rejoining the Hickory Crawdads from a month-long stint on the DL, center fielder Lewis Brinson emerged as the hero Tuesday night with a RBI sacrifice fly in the 9th to give the 'Dads a walk-off 8-7 win over the Charleston RiverDogs at L.P. Frans Stadium.
The Crawdads entered the 9th in a 7-7 tie after Charleston rallied for two runs in the 8th. Joe Jackson kick started the frame with a one out double to right, which prompted the RiverDogs to intentionally walk Nomar Mazara. 'Dogs reliever Eric Ruth then unintentionally walked Ryan Cordell to load the bases and bring up Brinson. After working the count to 2-1, Brinson flew out deep into the right field corner to easily score Jackson from third and give the 'Dads the win.
The Crawdads trailed early in the game, with the RiverDogs scoring a run on a pair of doubles in the 1st and another tally on a solo home run by Eduardo De Oleo in the top of the 2nd for a 2-0 lead. Ryan Cordell cut the 'Dads deficit in half with a solo homer to left in the bottom of the 2nd, but the 'Dogs came right back with a run in the 3rd for a 3-1 advantage.
Hickory was able to tie up the score in the bottom of the 3rd, when Nick Vickerson crushed a 2-run big fly to left for a 3-3 score. The 'Dads then took the lead with a four-run 5th, highlighted by a RBI double from Jackson and a mammoth 3-run homer to right by Mazara to give the Crawdads a 7-3 advantage.
Charleston chipped away at the deficit over the next three innings, with the RiverDogs scoring twice in the 6th and two more times in the 8th to tie the score and set the stage for the Crawdads 9th inning heroics.
Brinson finished the game 1-3 with a walk and the game-winning RBI, while Mazara went 3-4 with his seventh homer of the year, three RBI, and an intentional walk. Vickerson (1-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, HBP), Cordell (1-4, HR, BB) and Jackson (2-5, 2 2B, RBI, 2 R) all finished with solid nights at the plate as well.
Hickory reliever Cody Kendall (4-2) earned the win with 1.2 scoreless innings pitched down the stretch. Ruth (0-1) took the loss for Charleston after allowing the game winning run over 2.2 total innings on the mound.
The win is the season-best fourth straight victory for the Crawdads (30-27), who have now won six of their last seven contests to move to a season-high three games over .500. The victory also assures the Crawdads of continuing their streak of either winning or splitting series, which now stands at seven straight. The RiverDogs (27-31), meanwhile, are now on a season-worst seven game skid. The 'Dads will go for the three-game sweep over the 'Dogs in the series finale Wednesday morning at 11:00 am.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 4, 2014
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- Suns Down Delmarva 5-4, Sweep Series - Hagerstown Suns
- Legends Snap Streak with 9-3 Win over Greenville - Lexington Legends
- Suns Scorch Shorebirds, 5-4 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Intimidators, Power Cancelled Due to Rain - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Kannapolis at West Virginia Cancelled - Charleston Dirty Birds
- 3-1 Win Gives 'Dads Series Sweep over 'Dogs - Hickory Crawdads
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- BlueClaws, Grasshoppers Split Double-Header on Wednesday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- RiverDogs to Appear on CBS Sports Network's Minor League Baseball Game of the Week on June 19 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Early Lead Slips to Crawdads in Series Finale - Charleston RiverDogs
- Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) at West Virginia Power (Pirates) - June 4, 2014 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Suns Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Shorebirds Game Notes at Hagerstown - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Parking Advisory for Florida Georgia Line Concert at Lake Olmstead Stadium - Augusta GreenJackets
- All-American Community Celebration and Fireworks July 4 at CMC-NorthEast Stadium - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Tourists Downed by Sand Gnats Despite Not Allowing An Earned Run - Asheville Tourists
- Crawdads Walk off with 8-7 Win - Hickory Crawdads
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