Home Runs & Ks Lift 'Dads to 8-2 Win
May 17, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Hickory Crawdads 2B Andy Ibanez
(Hickory Crawdads)
Lexington, KY - The Hickory Crawdads kicked off their week-long road trip with a display of power Monday night, as the 'Dads bats slugged two home runs and the pitchers struck out 12 batters in an 8-2 win over the Lexington Legends at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.
Andy Ibanez and Yeyson Yrizarri provided the pop from the plate with each batter launching solo homers, while pitchers Brett Martin and John Werner collected 8 and 6 strikeouts respectively to silence the Legends lineup. The win improved the Crawdads South Atlantic League-best record to 25-12 on the year, and kept them a half game ahead of Hagerstown in the Northern Division.
Ibanez got the 'Dads night off on the right foot in the 1st inning, when the Cuban slugger crushed a solo home run to left to give Hickory a 1-0 lead. Lexington quickly came back in the bottom of the inning though, as D.J. Burt walked to start the frame and eventually scored on a double play groundout to tie the score at 1-1.
The Crawdads re-took the lead in the 3rd when Chris Garia reached on an infield single and stole second base before coming home to score on a 2-out, RBI single to right by Tyler Sanchez for a 2-1 score. The advantage stretched to 3-1 in the top of the 4th, as LeDarious Clark doubled with one out, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a throwing error by Legends catcher Chase Vallot.
Lexington narrowed the deficit in the 4th when Ben Johnson connected on a solo shot to left that made the score 3-2, but Hickory pulled away from there with 5 unanswered runs. Yrizarri came through with his solo homer to left in the 6th for a 4-2 'Dads lead, while Sanchez walked, advanced twice on wild pitches, and scored on an Yrizarri sacrifice fly in the 8th for a 5-2 score.
Hickory then put the game away in the 9th, with three runs scoring on 4 walks and a hit to give the Crawdads an 8-2 lead. Frandy De La Rosa and Eric Jenkins both walked to begin the frame, while Dylan Moore drew a 2-out free pass to load the bases and Sanchez garnered an RBI walk that forced in the first run. Josh Altmann followed with a 2-RBI double to left to drive in the final tallies in the 8-2 Hickory victory.
Yrizarri finished the night 1-4 with his 2nd home run of the year and 2 RBI, while Ibanez went 1-5 with his 3rd long ball. Sanchez led the 'Dads bats on the night, going 2-2 with 2 RBI, 3 walks, a double, and a run scored.
All the offense backed up a solid pitching effort from Martin and Werner, who held Lexington to 2 runs on 8 hits. Martin (2-2) earned the win with 2 runs allowed on 6 hits, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts over 5.1 innings pitched, while Werner (2) picked up the save after throwing 3.2 scoreless frames on 2 hits, one walk, and 6 Ks. Legends starter Scott Blewett (2-4) took the loss after giving up 4 runs, 3 earned, on 8 hits, 2 walks, and 4 strikeouts over 6 IP.
The Crawdads (25-12) and Legends (15-22) will play again Tuesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.
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 Hickory Crawdads 2B Andy Ibanez |
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