'Dads Look to Take Fourth Straight Series Victory
Published on July 26, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, NC - The Crawdads have won their last three series and have split the first two games of their current four-game set with the Augusta GreenJackets. During that span, Hickory's offense has been driven by a pair of double-digit hitting streaks from INF Travis Adair (17 games) and RF Jared Prince (14 games).
The Crawdads are currently 17-13 in the second half of the 2010 season, putting them in second place in the Northern Division, 1.5 games behind the Lakewood BlueClaws for first. Hickory remains second in the overall standings as well at 57-43, 3.5 games behind the Lakewood BlueClaws and 9.5 games ahead of the third-place Delmarva Shorebirds.
THIS WEEK:
Monday, July 26 @ Augusta (7:05 p.m.)
Tuesday, July 27 @ Augusta (7:05 p.m.)
Thursday, July 29 vs. Kannapolis (7 p.m.)
Friday, July 30 vs. Kannapolis (7 p.m.)
Saturday, July 31 vs. Kannapolis (7 p.m.)
Sunday, August 1 vs. Kannapolis (5 p.m.)
Monday, August 2 vs. Asheville (7 p.m.)
WEEK IN REVIEW (Home team in CAPS):
Tuesday, July 20
HICKORY 4 vs. Delmarva 1
Crawdads starter RHP Matt Thompson pitched seven shutout innings to guide the 'Dads to a 4-1 win over the Shorebirds and extend Hickory's winning streak to four games. DH Yefry Castillo drove in two of the 'Dads four runs with on a double to left field in the sixth inning. RHP Tyler Tufts pitched 1.2 perfect frames of relief with two strikeouts to secure his third save with the Crawdads.
Wednesday, July 21
Delmarva 10 vs. HICKORY 6
The Crawdads plated two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but fell short, 10-6. 2B Travis Adair and LF Guillermo Pimentel each went 4-for-5 at the plate with an RBI, with Adair hitting his first home run of the season. In his first action since hitting the DL on May 22 with a strained oblique, DH Vinny DiFazio went 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs and a run scored.
Thursday, July 22
HICKORY 7 vs. Delmarva 5
Hickory scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to top the Delmarva Shorebirds, 7-5. DH Vinny DiFazio hit his first home run since returning from the DL on Wednesday. LHP Joseph Ortiz pitched 3.2 hitless innings in relief of starter RHP Braden Tullis to pick up the win. RHP Tyler Tufts recorded the final out of the ninth to notch the save.
Friday, July 23
HICKORY 9 vs. Delmarva 7
The Crawdads scored seven runs in the fifth inning en route to a 9-7 win. DH Zach Zaneski hit his first career grand slam to power the big inning. LHP Robbie Erlin picked up the win for the Crawdads, allowing one run on five hits with eight strikeouts through five frames. RHP Tyler Tufts recorded the save.
Saturday, July 24
AUGUSTA 13 vs. Hickory 7
The GreenJackets rode an 11-run third inning to take the 13-7 win. DH Vinny DiFazio smacked his ninth home run of the season, a three-run shot in the third. RHP Johnny Gunter and RHP Ovispo De Los Santos combined to pitch the final 2.2 scoreless innings of relief, following RHP Johan Yan and starter RHP Jake Brigham.
Sunday, July 25
Hickory 6 vs. AUGUSTA 4
The Crawdads scored two runs in three consecutive innings on their way to the 6-4 win. RHP Matt Thompson became the first Crawdads pitcher to eclipse 100 strikeouts on the season, striking out five in five relief frames. 3B Matt West returned from the DL with a two-run homer and 2B Jonathan Roof tallied a season-high three RBIs.
PODRAZA PROMOTED TO BAKERSFIELD
On Sunday, OF Cody Podraza became the latest Crawdad to be promoted by the Texas Rangers to the Bakersfield Blaze of the California League (High-A). Podraza, 22, hit .261 with a home run, two triples, and 13 RBIs in 42 games with the Crawdads this season. The native of Tomball, Texas was selected in the 16th round of the 2006 June draft by the Rangers out of Tomball High School.
He is the eighth Crawdad to be promoted this season, joining RHP Wilmer Font, RHP Trevor Hurley, RHP Hector Nelo, LHP Robbie Ross, CF Miguel Velazquez, and RHP Joe Wieland on the High-A Bakersfield roster, while RHP Josh Lueke was promoted to AA-Frisco earlier in the campaign.
PLAYER AND TEAM NOTES:
~In his five games since returning from the DL on Wednesday, C Vinny DiFazio is batting .471 with two home runs, eight RBIs, and five runs scored
~The Crawdads 12 shutout wins this season are the most in the South Atlantic League
~The 'Dads three complete games thrown are tied for the most in the league
~Since moving from the bullpen to the starting rotation, RHP Braden Tullis is 3-0 with a 2.49 ERA in five starts
~Hickory relievers have recorded a league-leading 34 saves on the season
~The Crawdads are tied for second in the league with 74 team home runs
~They have the highest Slugging Percentage (.397) and On-Base-Plus-Slugging Percentage (.731), and second-highest On-Base Percentage (.334) in the SAL
~The Crawdads pitching staff owns the third-lowest ERA (3.36) and WHIP (1.23), and have allowed the fewest walks (237) in the league
THIRSTY THURSDAY, FIREWORKS, AND MOUSE PADS KICK OFF NEXT HOMESTAND!
Thursday, July 29 vs. Kannapolis - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch
-Thirsty Thursday - $1 beers and Pepsis
-Postgame concert
-Disgraced Athletes Night
-Presented by Buffalo Wild Wings
Friday, July 30 vs. Kannapolis - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch
-Friday Night Fireworks
-Celebrity Tribute
-Presented by WNNC 1230AM
Saturday, July 31 vs. Kannapolis - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch
-Crawdads Mouse Pad Giveaway
-Rivalry Night - wear a shirt of your favorite college for a FREE ticket!
-Presented by Blue Ridge Energies and 1290 WHKY
Sunday, Aug. 1 vs. Kannapolis - 3:30 p.m. pre-game service, 5 p.m. first pitch
-Faith and Family Day pre-game service by Freedom Biker Church of Hickory
Monday, Aug. 2 vs. Asheville - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch
-Guaranteed Win Night- if the 'Dads don't win, all fans in attendance get a FREE ticket!
-Senior 2-for-1 tickets
-Kids Eat FREE with ticket purchase
-Presented by ResCare and 63 Big Ways 630AM
Tuesday, Aug. 3 vs. Asheville - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch
-Dollar Day - Buy one Grandstand ticket, get a second for just a buck!
-Guaranteed Home Run Night- if the Crawdads don't hit a home run, all fans in attendance get a FREE ticket!
-KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets
Wednesday, Aug. 4 vs. Asheville - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch
-Guaranteed Shutout Night - if the Crawdads don't throw a shutout, all fans in attendance get a FREE ticket!
-Unemployment Night - show NCESC card or printed online statement for 4 free tickets
-Wii Wednesday Home Run Derby Contest
Thursday, Aug. 5 vs. Asheville - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch
-Thirsty Thursday - $1 beers and Pepsis
-Beach Party Night
-Guaranteed Sunny Evening - if the weather is not sunny for Thursday's game, all fans in attendance get a FREE ticket!
-Postgame concert
-Presented by Buffalo Wild Wings and The Big Dawg 92.1FM
GET TICKETS:
Single game tickets for all Crawdads games are on sale at the Crawdads Ticket Office and online at www.hickorycrawdads.com and start at just $6! Season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available at the Crawdads Front Office, located at 2500 Clement Blvd. NW or by calling (828) 322-3000.
LEAGUE LEADERS:
LHP Robbie Erlin - 0.86 WHIP (1st)
LHP Robbie Erlin - .198 battting average against (1st)
LHP Robbie Erlin - 1.67 ERA (2nd)
RHP Matt Thompson - 104 strikeouts (2nd)
RHP Matt Thompson - 8 wins (T-2nd)
RHP Matt Thompson - 8.97 strikeouts per 9 innings (3rd among starters)
RHP Neil Ramirez - 7 wins (T-3rd)
SS Leury Garcia - 38 stolen bases (T-2nd)
3B Matt West - 22 hit by pitches (1st)
CRAWDADS LEADERS:
Batting Average- 2B Travis Adair (.317)
Home Runs- C Vinny DiFazio (9)
RBI- RF Jared Prince (60)
Stolen Bases - SS Leury Garcia (38)
Walks - RF Jared Prince (37)
Wins - RHP Matt Thompson (8)
ERA - LHP Robbie Erlin (1.67)
Strikeouts - RHP Matt Thompson (104)
Saves - RHP Tyler Tufts (6)
Innings Pitched - RHP Matt Thompson (104.1)
South Atlantic League Stories from July 26, 2010
- Lakewood Sweeps Doubleheader from Delmarva - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Julio Rodriguez K's 10, Claws Sweep Doubleheader with 5-0 Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Intimidators Comeback Stopped Short, 8-6 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Sand Gnats Post Second Straight Shutout Win Over Legends - Lexington Legends
- Ramirez Blanks GreenJackets, 6-0, in Rain-Shortened Game - Hickory Crawdads
- Charleston Rallies in Ninth, But Falls to Greensboro, 7-6 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Suns Split Double Header with Power - Hagerstown Suns
- Jackets Blanked in Rain-Shortened 6-0 Contest - Augusta GreenJackets
- Valle's Shot in the Tenth Leads Claws to 4-3 Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- It's a Washout: Drive and Braves Postponed - Greenville Drive
- Monday's Game Postponed - Rome Emperors
- Gnats Game Notes: Monday, July 26 at Lexington - Savannah Sand Gnats
- 'Dads Look to Take Fourth Straight Series Victory - Hickory Crawdads
- RiverDogs to Break Wind at Wednesday's Game - Charleston RiverDogs
- Suns Partner with Children in Need for Back-To-School Drive - Hagerstown Suns
- Shorebirds Game Notes - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Rome Makes Roster Move - Rome Emperors
- BlueClaws and WOBM Staffs Meet in Charity Softball Game August 5th - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Gnats Playoff Tickets On Sale At 10 am - Savannah Sand Gnats
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