'Dads Win Wacky Game in Kannapolis 7-5
June 11, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Hickory Crawdads Celebrate
(Hickory Crawdads)
Kannapolis, NC - Two nights of quick, low-scoring games gave way to a wild and unpredictable contest between the Hickory Crawdads and Kannapolis Intimidators Saturday night, with the 'Dads ultimately emerging victorious with a 7-5 win at Intimidators Stadium.
The Crawdads and Intimidators had combined for only 4 runs on 15 hits and 1 error in the 'Dads wins in the first two games of the series. Game 3 however saw the two clubs total 12 runs on 24 hits and 5 errors in Hickory's 7-5 victory. The win saw the Crawdads overcome a 3-1 deficit with 6 unanswered runs before clinging to a 2-run lead as the Intimidators scored once in the bottom of the 9th before John Werner struck out Antonio Rodriguez to end the game.
The win also drew the 'Dads to within 2.5 games of 1st place Hagerstown in the Northern Division race, with 9 games remaining in the first half of the season.
The night began much like the previous two evenings in Kannapolis, with both starting pitchers looking strong early. Kannapolis jumped out to a quick lead in the 1st with consecutive singles by Grant Massey and Landon Lassiter followed by an RBI double from Johan Cruz off of Hickory starting pitcher Wes Benjamin for a 1-0 score. The Crawdads responded in the top of the 3rd, when Jose Almonte doubled off the wall in center and scored one out later on an RBI sacrifice fly to center by Eric Jenkins to tie the game at 1-1.
The contest remained tied until the 5th, when Lassiter drew a 2-out walk from Benjamin prior to a 2-run home run to left by Cruz that put the Intimidators back on top 3-1. Hickory went to work on the deficit in the 6th, as Carlos Arroyo singled, Ricky Valencia walked, and Ti'Quan Forbes delivered a 2-out, RBI double down the right field line to cut the score to 3-2.
The Crawdads came back the next inning with 2 unearned runs on four hits and two errors to take a 4-3 lead. Yeyson Yrizarri led off the fame with a single to left before Jenkins laid down a bunt base knock to put the first two runners on. Josh Altmann followed with a chopping infield single that should have loaded the bases, but Yrizarri was caught off the bag and third and tagged out for the first out of the frame. Yrizarri had to be helped off the field after the play with an apparent injury.
Undeterred, Arroyo followed with a hard ground ball to first that got past Kannapolis first baseman Cody Daily for a 2-run error to give the 'Dads a 1-run advantage.
Hickory pushed their lead to 4 runs in the 8th, when they struck for 3 tallies on 5 hits for a 7-3 score. Connor McKay led off the frame with an infield single before Almonte reached on a one-out, base knock to left and Chuck Moorman got to first on an infield base knock to load the bases. Jenkins followed with a 2-RBI double over Lassiter's head in left to plate the first two runs. One batter later, Altmann hit an RBI, groundball single to right to bring home the Crawdads' final run of the night.
The Intimidators refused to go down quietly however, as they reached current Hickory and former Kannapolis reliever Matt Ball for a run on three singles in the 8th to cut the score to 7-4.
They kept their foot on the gas in the 9th, with a leadoff single from Massey prior to a fielding error by 'Dads shortstop Dylan Moore to put the first two runners aboard. Following a strikeout of Cruz, Ball walked Seby Zavala to load the bases with only one out. Crawdads manager Steve Mintz responded by bringing in Werner from the bullpen, but the Intimidators picked up a run on an RBI groundout by Danny Mendick to make the score 7-5 with runners on the corners and two out.
Rodriguez then stepped to the plate as the potential winning run for Kannapolis, but Werner got the DH to strikeout swinging to end the game with a Hickory victory.
'Dads reliever Adam Choplick (2-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings pitched including 2 walks and 4 strikeouts, while Werner (6) picked up the save after recording the final two outs. Kannapolis bullpen arm Yelmison Peralta (0-3) took the loss with 2 unearned runs allowed on 3 hits over 1.1 innings of relief.
Altmann led the Crawdads offensive attack, finishing with a season-high 4 hits in 5 at-bats including a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Jenkins ended the game 2-4 with a double, 3 RBI, and a run scored, while Almonte went 2-3 with a double, 2 runs scored, and a walk.
The Crawdads (36-25) will go for the 4-game sweep of the Intimidators (23-39) Sunday night, with first pitch scheduled for 5:05 pm.
Images from this story
 Hickory Crawdads Celebrate |
South Atlantic League Stories from June 11, 2016
- 'Dads Win Wacky Game in Kannapolis 7-5 - Hickory Crawdads
- Intimidators Lose Lead Late to Crawdads - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Fireflies Clobber Power for Third Straight Night - Columbia Fireflies
- Legends Snap Streak with 8-5 Win over Hagerstown - Lexington Legends
- Lexington Gets First Win of Series against Hagerstown - Hagerstown Suns
- Loss Pushes Power under .500 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Long Ball Lifts Delmarva in Crucial Victory - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Cedeno Stellar as RiverDogs Shutout Asheville, 3-0 - Charleston RiverDogs
- BlueClaws Fall 5-4 Saturday Night at Delmarva - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Tinoco Strong in Return But Offense Remains Handcuffed - Asheville Tourists
- Sunday's 'Bark in the Park' Postponed Until July 5 - Columbia Fireflies
- Fireflies Game Notes: June 11 vs. West Virginia (Game 62) - Columbia Fireflies
- Delmarva Shorebirds Game Notes for Saturday, June 11 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
