'Dads beat Drive, 9-5, Gain Ground in Division Race
June 20, 2010 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, NC - Much like Friday night, the Hickory Crawdads and Greenville Drive battled back and forth early, before Hickoy rallied for three runs in the sixth and four in the seventh to take the 9-5 win before 2,525 at L.P. Frans Stadium on Saturday night. The 'Dads win, coupled with a Lakewood BlueClaws loss, puts the Crawdads just one game behind the BlueClaws for 1st in the Northern Division with just one final game remaining in the half.
Should Hickory and Lakewood finish with identical records in the first-half, the first-half title will be decided based on the winner of the first game between the two teams held at L.P. Frans Stadium on August 25.
The Drive (35-34) scored first against Crawdads All-Star starter LHP Robbie Erlin in the top of the third inning. 2B Vladimir Frias led the inning off with a home run to left field. After back-to-back singles by C Christian Vazquez and RF Jeremy Hazelbaker, SS Derrik Gibson put down a sac bunt that was thrown errantly towards first by 3B Matt West, allowing Vazquez to score, putting Greenville ahead, 2-0.
Hickory (40-29) cut the lead in half in the bottom half of the third against Drive starter RHP Pete Ruiz (4-5, 5.47 ERA). With runners at second and third, 2B Travis Adair singled to center to score West from third, but LF/RF Ed Koncel was thrown out at the plate attempting to tie the game. Greenville added a run of their own in the top of the fourth on a two-out RBI single by Vazquez, scoring CF Reymond Fuentes from second and extending the lead to 3-1.
The 'Dads pulled to 3-2 in the fifth, before taking their first lead of the game in the sixth. After All-Star CF Miguel Velazquez singled and DH Cristian Santana walked with one out, 1B Mike Ortiz hit a fly ball that was lost by Fuentes in centerfield, falling for a triple and plating both Velazquez and Santana. West then flied out to center with Ortiz tagging and scoring to put Hickory up, 5-3.
The Crawdads pushed across four more runs in the bottom of the seventh, including two on Santana's team-leading 11th home run of the season to push their lead to 9-3. Greenville scored single runs in the eighth and ninth to account for the final score of 9-5.
Crawdads Manager Bill Richardson and RF Jared Prince were both ejected arguing close plays on the bases.
Hickory reliever LHP Chad Bell (1-1, 2.86 ERA) dealt two scoreless innings of relief of Erlin to pick up the win. RHP Braden Tullis and RHP Trevor Hurley pitched the final three innings of relief. Ruiz was handed the loss for the Drive.
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South Atlantic League Stories from June 20, 2010
- Crawdads Drop Series Finale to Drive - Hickory Crawdads
- Gnats Win First Half Championship - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Jackets Fall Short as Gnats Clinch Crown - Augusta GreenJackets
- First Half Ends with 6-3 Loss to Lexington - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Suns Finish First Half with a Win - Hagerstown Suns
- Legends Take Final Game of Series over Delmarva, 6-3 - Lexington Legends
- Braves Sweep RiverDogs - Rome Emperors
- BlueClaws Stand Up to Intimidators, 6-3, Make Playoffs - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Rome Sweeps Charleston Again, 1-0 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Gnats Game Notes - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Intimidators to Campaign for Clean Air on June 25th - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Delmarva takes third straight over Legends, 7-1 - Lexington Legends
- Suns Hold on for Win over Power - Hagerstown Suns
- Power Drop 7-4 Decision to Suns - Charleston Dirty Birds
- 'Dads beat Drive, 9-5, Gain Ground in Division Race - Hickory Crawdads
- Braves Offense Comes Alive - Rome Emperors
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