SAL1 Hickory Crawdads

'Dads drop Braves

Published on August 4, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release


Joey Munoz and Austin McClune combined to end both Hickory's six-game losing streak and 11-game home skid in the Crawdads' first walk-off win since April 6 on Monday. Fighting a tug-o-war with the Rome Braves from the first inning, Hickory (15-29, 45-69) entered the ninth inning down, 7-6, and owning an 0-56 record when trailing after eight innings in 2008.

But after Erik Huber hit a one-out double and Ronald Pena struck out, Huber advanced to third base on a wild pitch. McClune, having already hit a solo home run earlier in the night, then worked a 2-2 count before fouling off a pair of pitches to the right. On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, he laced a single to left off Braves reliever Tommy Palica to plate Huber with ease.

A second Palica wild pitch in the next at-bat moved McClune to second with Munoz at the dish. The man who gave Hickory its first lead of the night -- Munoz's two-run single in the first inning gave the Crawdads a 3-2 advantage -- would give the 'Dads their final cushion, shooting a single through the hole on the right side.

When right fielder David Berres' throw came up the first-base line, McClune slid in with the run that triggered a Crawdads mob rushing the infield.

Hickory hadn't won at home since a July 4 victory over Columbus. The Crawdads also hadn't triumphed in walk-off fashion since winning their first three games of the year in their last at-bats on April 5-6's back-to-back doubleheaders against West Virginia.

McClune snapped a 3-30 slump with his heroic performance, going 2-3 with two runs, two RBIs and a walk in addition to his second home run of the year. Munoz, meanwhile, finished 2-5 with the three RBIs that proved to bookend Hickory's scoring for the night.

Crawdads reliever Adam Simon earned the win and improved to 1-3 after tossing scoreless eighth and ninth innings. Palica -- who earned the save in game one of the series -- blew his fifth save of the year and dropped to 6-6 with the loss for Rome (21-23, 43-70).

Five Crawdads notched multiple hits, including every hitter 4-7 in the lineup. That foursome, featuring Huber, Pena, McClune and Munoz, combined to go 8-17 with two home runs, five RBIs and five runs. Huber contributed a long ball in addition to McClune's, each of which was hit in the second inning. For Huber, it was his team-leading ninth blast of the year.

Rome lost four separate leads throughout the game: 2-0 in the first inning; 5-3 in the second; 6-5 in the fifth and 7-6 from the seventh to the bottom of the ninth.

Designated hitter Jason Heyward paced the Braves, going 2-4 with a two-run home run in the top of the first. Adam Coe scored two runs to lead Rome, while the Braves had five batters record two hits each.

The teams meet Tuesday night at 7:05 for the final time in 2008. Hickory right-hander Bryan Morris (0-0, --- ERA) will make his Crawdads debut after the Pittsburgh Pirates acquired the pitcher from the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-team, Jason Bay-Manny Ramirez deal July 31. Rome will counter with left-hander Cole Rohrbough (2-4, 5.72 ERA).

It's All-U-Can-Eat Fat Tuesdays at L.P. Frans Stadium, when you have the chance to enjoy all-you-can-eat hamburgers, hot dogs, nachos and popcorn.

For tickets and more information, call the Crawdads at (828) 322-3000 or visit www.hickorycrawdads.com.

GAME NOTES: Game time was 3:24. Attendance was 933. ...Rookie third baseman Matt Hague extended his team-high hitting streak to 11 games with a first-inning RBI double. His is the eighth Crawdads hitting streak of 10 or more games this season. ...Erik Huber extended his active hitting streak to nine games, matching his season-best nine-game roll from May 30-June 9. ...Michael Felix started the game for Hickory, but left after allowing five runs (all earned) on five hits in 1.1 innings. Felix threw five wild pitches in the second inning, giving him 38 for his career. That total moved Felix past Jared Hughes (35) for most career wild pitches in Crawdads history. ...Austin McClune's home run was his first since April 29.

Check out the Hickory Crawdads Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 4, 2008


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