'Dads Drop Wild Game in West Virginia
Published on June 20, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Charleston, WV - The Hickory Crawdads started their 3-game series in West Virginia with a wild back and forth contest Friday night, with the 'Dads ultimately falling to the Power 6-5 at Appalachian Power Park.
The series could have been a battle for the first half Northern Division title as the Power were only 2.5 games behind the 'Dads as recently as June 9th, but a surge by Hickory along with a slump by West Virginia resulted in the Crawdads clinching the division at home on June 15th. The lack of a pennant chase did little to dampen the drama of the night however, as the 'Dads and Power combined for six lead changes and two ties before Hickory lost 6-5.
The night began with a nearly hour and a half long rain delay before the game finally kicked off at 8:33 pm. West Virginia wasted little time from that point in jumping on Crawdads starting pitcher Brett Martin for one run on two hits in the 1st for a 1-0 score. The 'Dads came back with a run of their own in the top of the 2nd, with Jairo Beras coming home on a double play groundout by Ricky Valencia to tie the game at 1-1.
The Crawdads took their first lead of the night two innings later in the 4th, when All-Star Luke Tendler doubled to right before scoring one batter later on an RBI double by Beras for a 2-1 Hickory lead. The advantage lasted only until the bottom of the 5th, when West Virginia got to 'Dads reliever Chris Dula for two runs on two hits and three walks to re-take the lead at 3-2.
The seesaw affair continued with Hickory rallying for the game-tying run in the 6th thanks to an RBI sacrifice fly by Isiah Kiner-Falefa to plate Beras and make the score 3-3. The Power then pounced on the Crawdads bullpen again in the 7th, this time with DH Michael Suchy hitting a 2-out, solo home run to left to put West Virginia in the lead once again at 4-3.
The 'Dads made one last offensive push in the top of the 8th, when Beras and Rock Shoulders came through with back-to-back solo homers to launch the Crawdads ahead 5-4. Hickory then turned to All-Star closer John Fasola for a potential 6-out save, but the 'Dads lead would not survive the 8th. Fasola quickly recorded the inning's first out with a fly out to right, before the right-hander induced a routine fly ball to left that was dropped by Crawdads left fielder Carlos Arroyo to put the tying run on 2nd base with one out. West Virginia jumped on the opportunity the very next batter, as Power All-Star Elvis Escobar hit a ground ball, RBI single through the right side to tie the game at 5-5.
Another single and an intentional walk later, West Virginia had the bases loaded with only one out and first baseman Connor Joe at the plate. Fasola and the 'Dads appeared to escape the frame with the game still tied when Fasola fielded a grounder back to the mound and started what looked like an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play. The home plate umpire however ruled that Valencia's foot was not on home plate, thus allowing the go-ahead run to score for the Power and giving them the 6-5 score they would go on to win by.
Power reliever Jake Burnette (2-3) earned the win after allowing three runs on two hits, three walks, and four strikeouts over his three innings pitched. Fasola (1-1) was handed his first loss of the year despite both of his runs allowed in the 8th being unearned. West Virginia closer Nick Neumann (10) earned the save with a perfect 9th inning.
Beras ended the night with his best offensive game of the season, as the outfielder went 3-4 with a home run, double, two RBI, and three runs scored. Shoulders also finished with a multi-hit game going 2-3 with his 3rd long ball of the year, while Arroyo ended the night 2-5.
The Crawdads (43-24) and Power (37-31) will match up again Saturday night at 7:05 pm for game two of the three game series.
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