Hickory kicks off summer with 6-5 win
Published on May 26, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Both offenses were on display yet again at L.P. Frans Stadium on Monday, as Hickory escaped with a 6-5 win at home on Memorial Day over the Rome Braves. For the third straight game, both the Crawdads and the Braves knocked 10 or more hits, each side going for 13 on Monday. The main difference in Hickory's win against its previous two losses were the types of hits: only two of Rome's 13 went for extra bases (one double, one triple) after the Braves had tagged Hickory for eight home runs, four doubles and a triple in the first two games of the series.
The Crawdads were up to the offensive task in game three, though, as the top five hitters in the order combined to go 11-for-16 with five runs and four RBIs.
Hickory (27-25) used 2-for-4 nights from Jose De Los Santos and Austin McClune and 3-for-4 nights from Andrew Walker and Bobby Spain in the win, with De Los Santos and Walker each scoring twice. Spain added a pair of RBIs and De Los Santos also stole two bases.
Hickory took the lead right away, jumping out 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning courtesy of a Miles Durham sacrifice fly and a Spain RBI double.
With the hit, Spain extended his hitting streak to 17 games, the longest of any Crawdad this season, the longest active run in the South Atlantic League and the third-best run in the SAL this season.
Hickory would then plate two runs in the third and one in the fourth to maintain a tight lead, because Rome (17-33) began a string of four consecutive innings with at least one run in the top of the third.
The Braves would wait until the top half of the sixth inning to tie the game, when Hickory reliever Michael Felix walked four batters to force the tying run across home plate and knot the score at 5-5.
Hickory's winning run came in the bottom of the seventh inning, thanks to designated hitter Ronald Pena's RBI single -- one of three singles in the inning for the 'Dads -- to drive in Walker.
Moises Robles then shut the door in the ninth, working through the top of the Rome order and around a Carlos Lee single to earn his team-leading sixth save in six chances.
Lee stood out offensively for the Braves, finishing 4-for-4 with two runs, one RBI, a triple and a walk. Jason Heyward finished with a pair of RBIs, while Michael Fisher and Adam Coe each had two hits.
Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision. Hickory's Bradley Clapp left the game with a lead that eventually vanished after he allowed four runs (all earned) on 10 hits in five innings, walking none and striking out one. Rome's Chad Rodgers threw 5.2 innings, allowing five runs (all earned) on nine hits, walking three and punching out one.
Instead, reliever Matt McSwain threw a scoreless 2.1 innings for the Crawdads to improve to 3-0, with Robles notching the save. Michael Broadway allowed just the one run in 2.1 innings out of the bullpen for Rome, but was saddled with the loss and an 0-3 record.
Hickory's victory snapped Rome's season-high, four-game winning streak and marked the first time that the home team had won in seven contests between the Crawdads and the Braves this season. Five of the seven games have been decided by two runs or fewer.
The teams meet for the series finale Tuesday morning at 11. It is Education Day at L.P. Frans Stadium, with RHP Duke Welker (1-1, 2.70 ERA) of Hickory taking on LHP Jose Ortegano (2-3, 4.31) of Rome.
For more information, call the Crawdads at (828) 322-3000.
GAME NOTES:Game time was 2:58. Attendance was 1,751. ...It was the second meeting between Clapp and Rodgers this year (May 16 @ Rome), with neither pitcher figuring in the decision either game. ...Hickory had only scored two total runs in Clapp's 23.2 innings entering the game. The 'Dads scored five runs in Clapp's five innings Monday. ...Three runners were thrown out at home plate in the game, including McClune in the first inning and Walker in the third for Hickory, and Coe in the fourth for Rome. ...De Los Santos joined Marcus Davis as the only Crawdads to steal two bases in a game this season. Davis has done it twice: May 7 against Savannah and May 14 at Columbus. ...All active military, veterans and their immediate families were given free entry to Monday's game as part of the Salute to Veterans on Memorial Day, courtesy of Bradley Ingels and Armstrong Ford.
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