SAL1 Hickory Crawdads

'Dads Unravel in the 7th for 7-4 Loss

Published on August 23, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release


Greensboro, NC - The Hickory Crawdads entered the 7th inning Saturday night with a 4-3 lead over the Greensboro Grasshoppers and needing only 9 outs to secure the win, but the 'Dads lead would quickly be overrun as the 'Hoppers rallied for 4 runs in the frame resulting in a 7-4 Hickory loss at NewBridge Bank Park.

The decisive inning began with Crawdads leading 4-3, but reliever Adam Dian quickly put the advantage in jeopardy when he walked the bases loaded while recording one out before handing the ball over to fellow bullpen arm Chris Dula. The Grasshoppers quickly jumped on the new reliever with a 2-RBI double from KJ Woods and a 2-RBI single by John Norwood to put Hickory behind by the 7-4 score they would lose by.

Walks proved to be a problem for both teams on the night, with the 'Hoppers pitching staff issuing six while the Crawdads handed out five free passes. The difference in the score came from four of the five walks to Greensboro scoring, while the 'Dads were only able to bring home one.

For the third straight game in the series it was the Crawdads who jumped out to the initial lead, as Carlos Arroyo drove in Jose Cardona with an RBI single in the 2nd for a 1-0 Hickory advantage. The 'Dads stretched the score to 3-0 in the 3rd, when Edwin Garcia reached on an error, Luke Tendler walked, and both Jairo Beras and Eduard Pinto delivered RBI singles.

The 'Hoppers quickly responded in the bottom of the 3rd when Austen Smith drew a one-out walk and came in to score one out later on a 2-run home run from Mason Davis to cut the Crawdads lead to 3-2. Greensboro completed their comeback with an unearned run in the 5th, as Felix Castillo reached on a fielding error by Juremi Profar at first base and came home on an RBI base knock by Davis to knot the game at 3-3.

Hickory mounted one last rally in the top of the 6th when Arroyo singled to right, stole second base, and eventually scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error by Grasshoppers shortstop Justin Twine to put the 'Dads back on top 4-3. The lead held until the home half of the 7th, when the 'Hoppers used three walks and two hits to rally for four runs and the final 7-4 score.

Arroyo finished the game 4-5 with one RBI, one run scored, and two stolen bases to lead the Crawdads offense. Pinto ended the night 1-2 with an RBI and two walks, while Tendler went 1-4 with a double, a walk, and one run scored.

Greensboro reliever Cody Harris (1-1) earned the win with a perfect inning of relief in the 7th, while Dian (2-1) took the loss for Hickory with three runs allowed on two hits, three walks, and one strikeout over 2 innings pitched. 'Hoppers closer Kyle Fischer (10) recorded the save with a scoreless 9th inning.

The Crawdads (74-49/30-25) will go for the series split against the Grasshoppers (46-78/17-38) in the finale Sunday night at 6:00 pm.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 23, 2015


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