Crawdads Weekly - 'Dads Open Second Half with Stellar Pitching
Published on June 29, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, N.C. - Last Friday, starter RHP Joe Wieland held the Hagerstown Suns scoreless through nine innings to record the first complete game shutout for Hickory since RHP Luis Valdez on July 17, 2006. Two days later, LHP Robbie Erlin hurled six no-hit innings, beginning with five perfect frames against Hagerstown. RHP Matt Thompson then led the 'Dads to victory on Monday with eight scoreless innings in his to wrap up the five-game series.
The Crawdads are currently 3-2 to begin the second half of the 2010 season, having taken the opening five-game series in Hagerstown against the Suns. The 'Dads second-half record has them sitting in third place in the Northern Division, one game behind the Greensboro Grasshoppers for first. Hickory remains 2nd in the overall standings at 43-32.
THIS WEEK (ALL TIMES EASTERN):
Tuesday, June 29 vs. Lexington (7 p.m.)
Wednesday, June 30 vs. Lexington (7 p.m.)
Thursday, July 1 vs. Lexington (7 p.m.)
Friday, July 2 vs. Lexington (7 p.m.)
Saturday, July 3 vs. Lexington (7 p.m.)
Sunday, July 4 @ Delmarva (6:05 p.m.)
Monday, July 5 @ Delmarva (6:05 p.m.)
WEEK IN REVIEW (Home team in CAPS):
Tuesday, June 22
SAL Northern Division All- Stars 5 vs. SAL Southern Division All-Stars 5 (10 innings)
After CF Miguel Velazquez recorded the first hit of the game with a single in the first inning and later scored the game's first run, LHP Robbie Ross struck out the side in the opening frame on the mound for the North. All four Crawdads All-Star pitchers dealt one scoreless inning, including LHP Robbie Erlin in the third, RHP Matt Thompson in the sixth, and RHP Trevor Hurley in the seventh. Velazquez finished second to Augusta GreenJackets 3B Chris Dominguez in the Home Run Derby.
Thursday, June 24
HAGERSTOWN 4 vs. Hickory 3 (10 innings)
With Hickory trailing, 3-1, and two outs in the ninth inning, 1B Mike Ortiz delivered a two-run homer down the right field line to tie the game at 3-3. However, the Suns walked off with the 4-3 win on a single by LF J.P. Ramirez. RHP Braden Tullis pitched three perfect innings in relief of starter RHP Neil Ramirez.
Friday, June 25
Hickory 4 vs. HAGERSTOWN 0
RHP Joe Wieland tossed a complete game shutout, becoming the first Crawdad to do so since 2006. Wieland didn't allow a baserunner until the bottom of the fifth and had a no-hitter until the bottom of the sixth. The 'Dads scored in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings to pick up the 4-0 win.
Saturday, June 26
HAGERSTOWN 10 vs. Hickory 4
Hickory scored two runs in the fourth inning and two in the ninth, but fell, 10-4. 1B Mike Ortiz extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single in the sixth inning.
Sunday, June 27
Hickory 4 vs. HAGERSTOWN 1
LHP Robbie Erlin opened with five perfect innings, at one point striking out seven in a row, before hitting Hagerstown 1B Brett Newsome to begin the bottom of the sixth inning. Newsome was the only baserunner that Erlin allowed in his six no-hit innings, while striking out eight to pick up the win. 1B Mike Ortiz extended his hitting streak to 11 games, going 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Monday, June 28
Hickory 2 vs. HAGERSTOWN 0
RHP Matt Thompson spread seven hits across eight scoreless innings while fanning nine to pick up the victory in his longest outing of the season. LF Joe Bonadonna smacked two triples, one of which led to the 'Dads first run of the ballgame in the sixth inning. SS Edwin Garcia drove in the second run with a double in the seventh.
ERLIN AWARDED FOR NO-HIT INNINGS
The South Atlantic League announced on Monday that LHP Robbie Erlin has been named the SAL Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 21 - 27. He becomes the third Crawdad this season to earn an SAL Weekly Award, joining CF Miguel Velazquez (Player of the Week, May 3 - 9) and 1B Mike Ortiz (Player of the Week, April 26 - May 2). Erlin earned the honor with six no-hit innings against the Hagerstown Suns, at one point striking out seven in a row to finish with eight strikeouts and the win.
WIELAND PROMOTED TO BAKERSFIELD
The Crawdads announced on Tuesday that RHP Joe Wieland has been promoted by the Texas Rangers to the Bakersfield Blaze in the California League (High-A). Wieland, 20, was 7-4 with a 3.34 ERA with the Crawdads. He allowed 36 runs on 84 hits and 15 walks while striking out 71 in 89 innings pitched. In 2009 with Hickory, Wieland was 4-6 with a 5.31 ERA in 19 appearances (18 starts). He was selected by the Texas Rangers as a fourth round pick in the 2008 draft out of Bishop Manogue High School in Reno, Nevada.
PLAYER AND TEAM NOTES
~1B Mike Ortiz hit in 11-straight games from June 14-27, second-longest this season to SS Leury Garcia's 12-game streak, set May 6-18
~3B Matt West his currently riding and individual season-high eight-game hitting streak
~The Crawdads nine shutout wins this season are tied for 1st in the South Atlantic League
~Hickory relievers have recorded a league-leading 25 saves on the season
~The Crawdads are tied for 2nd in the league with 55 team home runs and 4th in slugging percentage (.388)
~Hickory is 3rd in the SAL with 361 runs
~The Crawdads pitching staff is 2nd in the league with 636 strikeouts
~They own the 3rd-lowest ERA (3.38) and WHIP (1.22) and have allowed the fewest walks (178) in the league
'DADS ARE BACK FROM JUNE 29 - JULY 3, FEATURING TWO INDEPENDENCE DAY FIREWORKS SHOWS!:
Tuesday, June 29 vs. Lexington - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch
-Dollar Day: 10 ballpark items on sale for just $1, presented by 1290 WHKY
-Buy one Grandstand ticket, get a second for just $1
-KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets - Bring a KRAFT Singles wrapper to the Ticket Office for a buy one, get one offer from KRAFT!
-Latino Night
Wednesday, June 30 vs. Lexington - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch
-Unemployment Night: show NCESC card or printed online statement for 4 free tickets
-Wii Wednesday Home Run Derby Contest
-Sitcom Night
Thursday, July 1 vs. Lexington - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch
-Thirsty Thursday: $1 beers and Pepsis
-Xerockx concert
-80's Night
-Presented by Buffalo Wild Wings
Friday, July 2 vs. Lexington - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch
-Incredible Independence Day Fireworks Show
-All tickets $10
-Seats are going fast, order in advance
-Presented by The Big Dawg 92.1FM
Saturday, July 3 vs. Lexington - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch
-Another Incredible Independence Day Fireworks Show
-All tickets $10
-Seats are going fast, order in advance
-Presented by KICKS 103.3FM
GET TICKETS:
Single game tickets for all Crawdads games are on sale now at the Crawdads Ticket Office and online at Hickorycrawdads.com and start at just $6! Season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available at the Crawdads office, located at 2500 Clement Blvd. NW or by calling (828) 322-3000.
To add the 2010 Hickory Crawdads schedule to your Outlook calendar, click here.
LEAGUE LEADERS:
Pitching:
LHP Robbie Erlin - 0.78 WHIP (1st)
LHP Robbie Erlin .178 batting average against (1st among starters)
LHP Robbie Erlin - 1.34 ERA (2nd)
RHP Trevor Hurley - .146 batting average against (2nd)
RHP Trevor Hurley - 7.01 baserunners allowed per nine innings (2nd)
RHP Trevor Hurley - 11.42 strikeout per nine innings ratio (4th)
RHP Trevor Hurley - 9 saves (T-5th)
LHP Robbie Ross - 8 wins (T-2nd)
LHP Robbie Ross- 89.1 innings pitched (T-2nd)
RHP Matt Thompson - 85 strikeouts (2nd)
RHP Matt Thompson - 9.85 strikeout per nine innings ratio (3rd among starters)
RHP Matt Thompson - 6 wins (T-4th)
RHP Joe Wieland - 2 complete games (2nd)
RHP Joe Wieland - 1 shutout (2nd)
RHP Joe Wieldand - 7 wins (T-3rd)
RHP Joe Wieland - 89 innings pitched (3rd)
RHP Neil Ramirez - 6 wins (T-4th)
Batting:
SS Leury Garcia - 38 stolen bases (1st)
CF Miguel Velazquez - 51 RBI (T-3rd)
CF Miguel Velazquez - 10 home runs (T-5th)
LF Cristian Santana - 11 home runs (T-4th)
LF Cristian Santana - .519 slugging percentage (3rd)
LF Cristian Santana - 33 extra-base hits (T-3rd)
3B Matt West - 17 hit by pitches (1st)
CRAWDADS LEADERS:
Batting Average- C Zach Zaneski (.294)
Home Runs- LF Cristian Santana (11)
RBI- CF Miguel Velazquez (51)
Stolen Bases - SS Leury Garcia (38)
Walks - RF Jared Prince (27)
Wins - LHP Robbie Ross (8)
ERA - LHP Robbie Erlin (1.34)
Strikeouts - RHP Matt Thompson (85)
Saves - RHP Trevor Hurley (9)
Innings Pitched - LHP Robbie Ross (89.1)
South Atlantic League Stories from June 29, 2010
- Two-Run Ninth Gives Lakewood Win over Hagerstown - Hagerstown Suns
- Legends Edge Out Crawdads, 6-5 - Hickory Crawdads
- Gnats Cruise by Drive, 6-1 - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Shorebirds Down Power, 4-3, in Series Opener - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Legends Take Series Opener in Hickory, 6-5 - Lexington Legends
- Greensboro Slips by Rome - Rome Emperors
- Power Edged by Shorebirds, 4-3 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- James Seals Win for Cardiac Claws in the 9th, 2-1 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Sand Gnats Halt Greenville's Winning Streak at Six Games - Greenville Drive
- Bats Lose Bite as `Dogs Take Opener 4-2 - Augusta GreenJackets
- Charleston Halts Nine-Game Skid, Wins 4-2 in Rain-Shortened Game - Charleston RiverDogs
- Intimidators Skid Hits Five, 6-3 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Crawdads Weekly - 'Dads Open Second Half with Stellar Pitching - Hickory Crawdads
- Gnats Game Notes - Savannah Sand Gnats
- July 4th Celebration Includes Military Appreciation Night, Fireworks & Robert C. Byrd Tribute - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- BlueClaws Produce Topps Attax National Champion - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Five-Game Homestand Starts Tonight - Augusta GreenJackets
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