Efficient BlueClaws Hand 'Dads 3-2 Loss
Published on June 6, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Lakewood, NJ - The Hickory Crawdads produced more hits, base runners, and scoring opportunities than the hometown Lakewood BlueClaws Saturday night, but it was the 'Claws who took better advantage of their chances resulting in a 3-2 'Dads defeat at FirstEnergy Park.
Despite outhitting the BlueClaws 8-6 and drawing four walks to the 'Claws two, the Crawdads never held a lead as they went 2-9 with runners in scoring position while stranding 8 men on base, six in scoring position. Conversely, Lakewood had only three innings in which they had a man in scoring position, but finished the night with just three runners left on base.
The lack of offense spoiled a great performance by the Hickory bullpen, as Austin Pettibone, Scott Williams, and David Perez combined to throw four shutout innings of relief with five strikeouts and just one hit allowed.
The 'Claws jumped on Hickory starting pitcher Brett Martin in the 1st inning, scoring two runs on three hits for an early 2-0 score. Martin settled down following the initial frame and put up perfect innings in the 2nd and 3rd to keep the score the same. The 'Dads were able to get on the board for the first time in the top of the 4th, when Marcus Greene and Jose Trevino both lined singles with one out before Luke Tendler drove home Greene on an RBI, fielder's choice groundout to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The BlueClaws responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame to push their lead to 3-1, but the Crawdads came right back in the top of the 5th when Tripp Martin led the frame off with a double before coming in two outs later on an RBI base knock by Josh Morgan to make the score 3-2.
The Hickory bullpen held Lakewood in check from there, giving the 'Dads a chance to rally late. The Crawdads looked to be in prime position to tie the game if not take the lead in the 7th when Martin walked and was followed by singles from Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Morgan, but Greene grounded into an inning-ending double play to squash the potential rally. The 'Dads had one last opportunity in the 9th when Martin came through with his second double of the night with one out, however 'Claws reliever Joey DeNato stopped the opportunity there as he got Jose Cardona to fly out and Kiner-Falefa to strikeout to end the game with a 3-2 Crawdads loss.
Lakewood starting pitcher Elniery Garcia (3-5) earned the win with two runs allowed on five hits, three walks, and four strikeouts over six innings pitched. Martin (3-2) took the loss for the Crawdads while making his first start in two weeks, as the left-hander gave up all three BlueClaws runs on five hits and three Ks during his 4 IP. DeNato (2) picked up the save with two scoreless frames of relief.
Martin (2-3, 2 2B, R, BB), Morgan (2-4, RBI), and Greene (2-4, R) all finished with multi-hit games to lead the Hickory offense.
The Crawdads (35-20) will try to salvage the final game of their series against the BlueClaws (27-26) and earn a 4-game split in the finale Sunday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 pm.
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