'Dads Start 2nd Half with Walk-Off Loss
Published on June 24, 2016 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Greensboro, NC - The Hickory Crawdads began the 2nd half of the South Atlantic League season with a tough loss Thursday night in Greensboro, as an 11th inning, 3-run home run by the Grasshoppers' Arturo Rodriguez handed the 'Dads a walk-off, 8-5 loss at NewBridge Bank Park.
The Crawdads fell behind early in the contest only to see the bats come alive with 5 unanswered runs over the middle frames for a 5-2 lead. The Grasshoppers tied the score at 5-5 in the bottom of the 5th, marking the last show of offense until extra innings. The 'Dads were able to escape trouble in the 10th when they left the bases loaded but Hickory couldn't wiggle out of the 11th, as Rodriguez ended the extra-long 2nd half opener with a 3-run blast to left.
Greensboro hopped out to a quick lead against Hickory starter Peter Fairbanks in the 1st. Anfernee Seymour led off the inning with a single and a steal of second base before coming home on an RBI double to left by Josh Naylor. One out later, Roy Morales delivered an RBI single to center for a 2-0 Grasshoppers' advantage.
Fairbanks settled down after the 1st and put up scoreless frames in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th innings. That bought time for the Crawdads offense, which came through with 3 runs in the 4th to take a 3-2 lead. Jose Almonte started the rally when he was hit on the back of the helmet with one out. Following a walk by Yeyson Yrizarri and a wild pitch by 'Hoppers starter Cody Poteet, Ti'Quan Forbes brought in the first run on an RBI fielder's choice groundout that included a fielding error by Seymour at shortstop that left two runners on with one out. Connor McKay followed with a groundout that moved both runners into scoring position for Frandy De La Rosa, who gave the 'Dads the lead with a 2-RBI base knock to center.
The Crawdads pushed their advantage to 5-2 in the top of the 5th, when Josh Altmann reached on a one out single to left prior to back-to-back RBI doubles by Dylan Moore and Tyler Sanchez. The Grasshoppers quickly responded in the bottom of the inning though, with an RBI single by Naylor and a 2-RBI double from Morales tying the game at 5-5.
Both bullpens took over from there, as Joe Palumbo and Blake Bass combined for 5 scoreless innings of relief for Hickory to counter the 6.2 total shutout frames from L.J. Brewster, Kyle Keller, and Jose Quijada for Greensboro. The 'Hoppers were finally able to end the game in the 11th with a leadoff single by Justin Twine, a sacrifice bunt from Naylor, and an intentional walk by 'Dads reliever Omarlin Lopez to Angel Reyes setting the stage for Rodriguez's walk-off, 3-run homer to left for the final 8-5 score.
Lopez (4-2) took the loss for the 'Dads with 3 runs allowed on 3 hits, 2 intentional walks, and 1 strikeout over 1.1 innings pitched. Quijada (3-0) earned the win for the Grasshoppers after tossing 2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
De La Rosa led the Hickory hitters with a 2-5 game including 2 RBI, while Sanchez finished 1-5 with a double and an RBI and Moore ended the game 1-4 with a double, an RBI, a walk, a stolen base, and a run scored.
The Crawdads (0-1/38-33) and Grasshoppers (1-0/39-32) will play again Friday night at 7:00 pm in game 2 of their 4-game series.
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