SAL1 Hickory Crawdads

'Dads Lose Lead But Rally for 11-6 Win

Published on July 2, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release


Charleston, WV - The Hickory Crawdads seemed well on their way to a routine win Tuesday night before losing a 3-run lead in the 8th, but the resilient 'Dads rallied for five more tallies in the top of the 9th to emerge with an 11-6 win over the West Virginia Power at Appalachian Power Park.

Hickory sent all nine batters to the plate in the decisive ninth frame, with Jairo Beras' bases loaded, RBI walk breaking the tie before Ronald Guzman plated two with a single and Evan Van Hoosier tripled in a pair to give the Crawdads their 11-6 lead. The win is the 5th straight for the 'Dads and pushes their South Atlantic League best 2nd half record to 11-2. The victory also moves the Crawdads all-time franchise record to 1,498-1,497, marking the first time in team history that their record is above .500.

Prior to the 9th inning surge, the Crawdads built a 6-3 advantage through the first seven innings. 'Dads starting pitcher Ricardo Rodriguez was solid on the mound with only three runs allowed, two earned, on nine hits over 5.1 innings pitched. That gave the Hickory offense room to work, with the 'Dads scoring two in the 4th, three in the 5th, and one in the 7th.

Beras delivered the game's opening blow and he broke up a scoreless tie in the 4th with a RBI single to right to plate Lewis Brinson. Kellin Deglan also came home on the play when Power right fielder Elvis Escobar's throw to third base went off line for a 2-0 score. Following a West Virginia run in the bottom of the 4th on a RBI single by Kawika Emsley-Pai, the Crawdads used a pair of home runs in the top of the 5th to stretch their lead to 5-1. Ryan Cordell struck first with on opposite field, solo shot to right, followed two batters later by a 2-run blast by Deglan to right.

The Power plated single runs in both the 5th and 6th frames on a RBI sacrifice fly by Jeff Roy and a RBI single from Emsley-Pai respectively, but the 'Dads came through with another tally in the 7th when Beras singled home Brinson for his second RBI of the game and a 6-3 Hickory lead.

The Crawdads turned to right-handed reliever Josh McElwee to try to navigate the team through the final two innings, but the normally dependable hurler couldn't hold on to the lead as he gave up a game-tying 3-run homer to Power shortstop JaCoby Jones for a 6-6 score.

The Hickory offense would come to their pitcher's aid though, as Joe Jackson singled before Cordell and Brinson walked to load the bases with nobody out in the top of the 9th. Beras then came through with a go-ahead RBI walk that forced home Jackson for a 7-6 Crawdads lead. The 'Dads weren't done yet, as Guzman followed Beras with a 2-RBI single up the middle and Van Hoosier came through two batters later with a 2-RBI triple to center for the final runs of the frame.

All-Star closer Cody Kendall would shut the door from there with a perfect bottom of the 9th to complete the 11-6 Hickory win. McElwee (2-0) earned the win after the late rally, while West Virginia reliever Henry Hirsch (1-4) took the loss after giving up all five runs in the 9th while recording two outs.

Beras (3-4, 3 RBIs, BB, R), Cordell (3-4, HR, RBI, 2 R, BB) and Deglan (3-4, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 R, BB) all finished with three-hit games, while Brinson went 1-2, with three walks and four runs scored for the game.

The Crawdads (11-2) will play the Power (8-5) again on Wednesday in game two of the three game series, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 2, 2014


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