Doubleheader Domination for the 'Dads
Published on April 21, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Asheville, NC - The Hickory Crawdads played their second doubleheader of the season Tuesday night and came away with their second twin bill sweep, as the 'Dads won game one against the Asheville Tourists 10-0 before taking the nightcap 5-4 at McCormick Field.
The Crawdads, who swept both their doubleheader games in Kannapolis on April 17th, never trailed in their 14 total innings versus the Tourists and played less than half an inning with the game tied. The 'Dads jumped out in front of game one with two runs in both the 1st and 2nd frames and never looked back en route to their 10-0 victory. Game two saw Hickory score three times in the 1st before Asheville tied it with three of their own in the bottom of the 3rd, but the Crawdads quickly reclaimed the lead with a run in the top of the 4th to propel them to the 5-4 win.
Jose Trevino led the 'Dads offensive attack on the night, with the catcher going 2-3 with a pair of 2-run home runs in game one before finishing 1-4 with an RBI in the nightcap. Eduard Pinto also had a big night at the plate, ending game one 3-4 with an RBI before going 2-3 with 2 RBI in game two.
The first contest was never in doubt for Hickory, with the Crawdads scoring twice in the 1st and 2nd, and three runs in both the 5th and 6th frames in their runaway 10-0 win. Trevino kick started the offense with the first of his two, 2-run homers in the 1st. Jose Cardona followed in the 2nd with an RBI single before he stole both second and third base en route to scoring on a throwing error for a 4-0 Crawdads lead.
The advantage grew to 7-0 with three more tallies in the 5th, this time with Tripp Martin delivering a 2-RBI single and Pinto contributing an RBI base knock of his own. The 'Dads capped the scoring in the 6th when Cardona walked and eventually scored on another error before Trevino launched his second, 2-run blast to right for the final 10-0 score.
Hickory starting pitcher Collin Wiles (1-0) earned the win for his second shutout performance of the season, with the former 1st round pick tossing five scoreless frames on two hits, no walks, and three strikeouts. Wiles has not allowed a run in two starts spanning 11 innings thus far this season. Asheville starter Sam Howard (0-2) took the loss after allowing four runs, two earned, on four hits, two walks, and three strikeouts.
The Crawdads seemed to carry over their momentum from game one into the nightcap, with the club scoring three runs on three hits in the 1st to jump ahead 3-0 on the Tourists. The 'Dads loaded the bases to start the frame, with Josh Morgan reaching on a hit-by-pitch and both Michael De Leon and Ronald Guzman reaching on singles. Trevino and Luke Tendler both followed with RBI groundouts before an RBI base knock from Pinto plated Guzman for the frame's final run.
The score would hold until the bottom of the 3rd, when Asheville broke through for the first time in two games with a three run inning to tie the score at 3-3. Hickory starting pitcher Kelvin Vasquez began the frame with his fourth strikeout of the night, but the Tourists followed with a home run to right field by Drew Weeks to break up the shutout. Randy Reyes then hit a double off the wall in right and one out later Sean Dwyer walked and Forrest Wall was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Vasquez stayed in the game to face one last batter, but an RBI walk to Luis Jean ended his night.
Hickory manager Corey Ragsdale turned to reliever Nick Gardewine to get the team out of the inning, but the right-hander's outing started ominously with a hit batter to force in the game-tying run and keep the bases loaded. Gardewine settled down after that however, forcing Wes Rogers into an inning-ending groundout to keep the game deadlocked at 3-3.
The tie didn't last long, as the Crawdads responded the next half inning with a run off a leadoff double by Martin and an ensuing RBI single by Pinto to retake the lead at 4-3. The advantage doubled in the 5th when Guzman crushed a solo homer over the 42 foot wall in right field to make the score 5-3.
Asheville attempted one last rally against former Tourist Jefri Hernandez in the 9th, but Hernandez worked around a one out solo long ball by Reyes to finish off the game and give the 'Dads the 5-4 win. Hernandez earned his first save of the season, while Gardewine (1-0) took home the win after tossing 3.1 scoreless innings of relief with five strikeouts. Asheville reliever Yoelly Bello (0-1) took the loss after allowing two runs on four hits during his two frames on the mound.
The Crawdads (9-3) will go for the series sweep over the Tourists (6-6) in Wednesday night's finale, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 21, 2015
- GreenJackets Come Up Short Again - Augusta GreenJackets
- Doubleheader Domination for the 'Dads - Hickory Crawdads
- RallyDogs Keep Rolling, Win Fourth Straight - Charleston RiverDogs
- Intimidators' Play at the Plate Secures Win - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Losing Skid Hits Four as Tourists Swept in DH by Crawdads - Asheville Tourists
- Doubleheader Split for Power - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Greenville Tops Legends, 5-3 - Lexington Legends
- Braves Win Pitchers' Duel 2-1 Tuesday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Hoskins Homers Twice as BlueClaws Top Hoppers 8-5 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Four-Run Seventh Propels Shorebirds over Suns - Hagerstown Suns
- Drive Top Legends, 5-3 - Greenville Drive
- 'Birds Back in Win Column, 6-3 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Power Come Back to Beat Kannapolis - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Shorebirds to Begin Homestand on Thursday - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Mader Finds Groove as Hoppers Win 5th Straight - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Meet the Character from Frozen on May 3 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- GreenJackets Lose Ninth Inning Lead - Augusta GreenJackets
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