Ibanez Powers Crawdads to 2-0 Win

June 2, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release

Lakewood, NJ - The Hickory Crawdads' struggling offense delivered one big blast Thursday night in Lakewood, NJ and the 'Dads pitching staff made it hold up, as Andy Ibanez's 2-run homer was the difference in a 2-0 Hickory victory over the BlueClaws at FirstEnergy Park.

The Crawdads entered the game having dropped 11 of their last 14, with the offense producing 2 runs or fewer in 9 of those games. The bats scuffled again Thursday but a 2-run homer by Ibanez in the 4th inning was all the Hickory hurlers needed, as Erik Swanson, Wes Benjamin, and John Werner combined to toss the club's third shutout of the year for a much-needed win.

The victory snaps a 3-game skid for the 'Dads and keeps them 4 games back of first place Hagerstown in the Northern Division race.

The game began with 3 scoreless frames, as Swanson battled Lakewood starter Franklyn Kilome. Kilome actually held the Crawdads hitless over the first three innings before surrendering a leadoff single to Yeyson Yrizarri to start the 4th. Ibanez followed with a line drive, 2-run home run just inside the left field foul pole to give Hickory a 2-0 lead. The homer proved to be controversial, as BlueClaws manager Shawn Williams was ejected arguing that it had gone foul.

Those two runs were all the 'Dads pitchers would need. Swanson (4-1) earned the win with 5 scoreless innings pitched on 3 hits, no walks, and 3 strikeouts. Benjamin followed with 4.2 shutout frames before running into trouble with 2 outs in the 9th when both Wilson Garcia and Deivi Grullon singled to bring the winning run to the plate in the form of South Atlantic League home run leader Jose Pujols. Werner entered the game and tossed a wild pitch to put the tying runs in scoring position before striking out Pujols to end the game and earn his 4th save of the year.

Kilome (1-5) took the loss for Lakewood with 2 runs given up on 4 hits, 5 walks, and 1 strikeout over 5.1 IP.

Ibanez finished the night 1-3 with his team-leading 5th home run of the year, 2 RBI, and a walk. Yrizarri went 1-4 with a run scored, while Eduard Pinto ended the game 2-3 with a walk.

The Crawdads (30-23) will play the BlueClaws (20-33) again Friday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.

Andy Ibanez of the Hickory Crawdads Rounds the Bases

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 2, 2016

• Drive Top Tourists 5-2 in Series Opener - Greenville Drive
• Beer City Tourists Drop Series Opener - Asheville Tourists
• Ibanez Powers Crawdads to 2-0 Win - Hickory Crawdads
• RiverDogs Shutout, 1-0, in One-Hit Wonder by Kannapolis - Charleston RiverDogs
• Wilson Shines in Series Opener - Columbia Fireflies
• Intimidators Survive Being 1-Hit in Shutout Win - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• GreenJackets Fall To Power 4-1 - Augusta GreenJackets
• BlueClaws Drop Series Opener 2-0 to Crawdads - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Power Tops Augusta 4-1 - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Shorebirds and Grasshoppers Postponed - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Legends Rained Out; Doubleheader Friday 5:35 p.m. - Lexington Legends
• Fireflies Game Notes: June 2 vs. Hagerstown (Game 54) - Columbia Fireflies
• RiverDogs, Charleston Recreation Department Join in MLB & USA Baseball's 'PLAY BALL' Initiative - Charleston RiverDogs
• Coluccio Released, Graham Joins Delmarva - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Fireflies Organize Youth Baseball Skills Camps - Columbia Fireflies
• WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
• C Daniel Gonzalez Joins Intimidators - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
• Delmarva Shorebirds Game Notes for June 2, 2016 - Delmarva Shorebirds

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