Hometown Hero Handcuffs Hickory in 4-2 Loss
Published on April 24, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
In a game hyped more for the opposing starting pitcher than for the home team looking for its second straight win, the Crawdads succumbed to local product Madison Bumgarner in a 4-2 loss at a jam-packed L.P. Frans Stadium on Thursday. Augusta's Bumgarner -- drafted 10th overall by the San Francisco Giants out of nearby South Caldwell (Hudson, NC) High School in the 2007 draft -- dazzled in his professional return to the Hickory area in front of a crowd of 4,805, 513 beyond stadium capacity.
Bumgarner allowed just two hits and one unearned run in 6.1 innings, striking out eight while issuing no walks.
Just as important for Augusta and detrimental to Hickory, the GreenJackets offense supported Bumgarner with four runs in the first three innings to send the Crawdads back below .500.
Hickory (10-11) trailed 2-0 after Augusta (11-10) DH Thomas Neal extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a 2-run home run in the top of the first.
The Crawdads fell further behind when the 'Jackets plated two runs on three hits in the fourth inning, giving Bumgarner all the ammunition he needed.
Hickory scored one run in the home half of the fourth when Miles Durham drove in Jose De Los Santos with a sacrifice fly. De Los Santos reached on a single, extending his hitting streak to a Hickory season-high 12 games.
The Crawdads would put their second and final run across off the Augusta bullpen when Andrew Walker's double drove in Erik Huber in the seventh inning.
Hickory threatened with runners at the corners and one out in the eighth, but could not complete the comeback.
Bumgarner (2-2) earned the win, leaving in the seventh inning to a standing ovation from the beyond-sellout crowd.
Crawdad starter Rafael De Los Santos (1-1) took the loss, allowing four earned runs in six innings.
Augusta's Daniel Otero took the save, his third of the year.
The teams play the rubber game of the series Friday night at 7 p.m. Probable starters are RHP Dionis Rodriguez (0-0, 3.00 ERA) for Hickory and RHP T.J. Brewer (1-1, 4.50) for Augusta.
GAME NOTES: Game time was 2:31. ...Bumgarner remained after the game signing fan autographs for 45 minutes in front of the visitors' dugout. ...Harrison Bishop and Matt McSwain pitched three scoreless innings of relief for Hickory. ...Hickory is 2-9 in games when the opposition scores first.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 24, 2008
- Grasshoppers Fall in 14-Inning Marathon to Hagerstown, 8-7 - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Lexington Helps BlueClaws Win Third Straight - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Drive Can't Get Past Tourists, Lose 11-6 - Greenville Drive
- Braves homers down Gnats, 5-4 - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Shorebirds win eighth straight at Appalachian Power park - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Rufino's Blast Lifts Charleston As RiverDogs Caterwaul Catfish, 5-3 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Captains Top Intimidators 4-2 - Lake County Captains
- Lakewood takes the first of four games in Lexington - Lexington Legends
- Birds Take Early Lead, Win 8-5 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Hometown Hero Handcuffs Hickory in 4-2 Loss - Hickory Crawdads
- Intimidators Drop Opener To Lake County 4-2 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Jackets Win behind Strong Pitching - Augusta GreenJackets
- RiverDogs Activate Bradley Suttle From DL - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds and United Way Team Up for a "Carnival of Caring Day" - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Rome Braves Make Roster Moves - Rome Emperors
- Ryan Kalish Added to the Drive Roster - Greenville Drive
- Columbus Catfish Activate James Mayer - Columbus Catfish
- Columbus Catfish Place Dhaenens on TIA - Columbus Catfish
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.
