'Dads Rally in 9th, but Braves Hang on for 5-4 Win
May 22, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
ROME, GA - The Hickory Crawdads scored two runs in the top of the ninth to pull within one run of tying the game, but the Rome Braves held on for the 5-4 win, before 2,419 fans at State Mutual Stadium in Rome on Sunday afternoon.
The Braves (16-28) took advantage of two first-inning miscues to strike for an unearned run against RHP Cody Buckel (L, 0-2) and the Crawdads (23-20).
Hickory, though, responded right away, getting on the board in the top of the second against RHP Ryan Weber. 1B Andrew Clark led off with a double and was joined on the bases by RF Josh Richardson, who drew a walk. After a strikeout, LF Alejandro Selen loaded the bases on an infield single, before C Kellin Deglan worked an RBI walk to force in Clark and the cut the deficit to 2-1.
After Buckel retired the final seven batters he faced, RHP Ben Rowen took over on the mound and retired the first three he faced in the fourth inning. The Braves broke that streak with a single from LF Bobby Raugh in the fifth and later brought Raugh in from third in that inning on a sacrifice fly by 2B Matt Lipka, making it 3-1.
The Crawdads again pulled within one when LF Alejandro Selen slammed his first homer as a Crawdad in the top of the seventh against RHP Aaron Northcraft (1-0). The solo shot cut the deficit to 3-2.
However, Rome again had an answer, plating a pair against LHP Jimmy Reyes in the bottom of the seventh. 1B Chris Garcia reached on a leadoff single and then moved to third on back-to-back bunts. Lipka brought Garcia in with an RBI single, before coming in all the way from first on an RBI triple by RF David Rohm, stretching the Braves lead to 5-2.
The Crawdads again refused to go away, scoring twice in the ninth and getting the potential tying run to third base before the Braves hung on for the win. Clark and Richmond sparked the near comeback with consecutive singles to start the ninth. 3B Christian Villanueva then ripped an RBI double to right field, bringing in Clark and moving Richmond to third. One out later, Deglan bounced an RBI grounder to second, scoring Richmond and advancing Villanueva, the potential game-tying tally, to third with two outs. SS Jurickson Profar entered the game as a pinch hitter and worked a walk, before RHP Kyle Mertins (S, 3) got CF Teodoro Martinez bounced out to second to get out of the jam and nail down the 5-4 win for Rome.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 22, 2011
- Flacco, Pettit Lead Shorebirds to 8-3 Win in Game Three - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Rogers Rolls as Augusta Tops Charleston, 5-2 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Delmarva Scores Seven Straight to Beat Kannapolis - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- GreenJackets Cash In On Charleston's Dog Day in Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Gnats Retake First Place with Five-Run Eighth Inning - Savannah Sand Gnats
- BlueClaws Get ahead Early, Stay in Front for Win - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Legends Come from behind for 9-6 Win over Asheville - Lexington Legends
- BlueClaws Beat Power 7-3 for 5th Straight Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Braves Defeat Crawdads 5-4 - Rome Emperors
- 'Dads Rally in 9th, but Braves Hang on for 5-4 Win - Hickory Crawdads
- Savannah Sand Gnats Game Notes - Savannah Sand Gnats
- West Virginia Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Grasshoppers Leap Over Suns with Late Inning Surge, Win 9-6 - Hagerstown Suns
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