Long Balls Lead to 8-3 'Dads Defeat
April 24, 2014 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Hickory, NC - The Greensboro Grasshoppers came to Hickory for the first time in 2014 Thursday night and made sure to bring their hot bats with them, as the 'Hoppers hammered four home runs off Hickory Crawdads starting pitcher David Ledbetter en route to an 8-4 'Dads defeat in front of 2,513 fans at L.P. Fans Stadium.
Greensboro entered the game leading the South Atlantic League with a .275 team batting average while ranking third with 11 home runs on the year. Both of those figures would continue their upward trend, with the 'Hoppers four dingers contributing to a 14 hit outburst.
Ledbetter began the game with a non-descript first frame, before giving up the first long ball to Greensboro third baseman Juan Avila in the 2nd for a 1-0 Grasshoppers lead. The 3rd inning brought another homer and three more runs, as first baseman Felix Munoz launched a 3-run blast to right to put the 'Dads behind 4-0.
It was more of the same in the 4th, this time with the 'Hoppers going deep twice, with a solo shot from Justin Bohn and a 2-run dinger by Kentrell Dewitt putting the Crawdads in a 7-0 hole.
The 'Dads offense meanwhile was held in check over the first five innings of the game by Grasshoppers starter Matt Milroy, who tossed five shutout frames while allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out nine.
Hickory reliever Collin Wiles entered the game in the 5th and put the brakes on the Greensboro attack, holding the visitors to just one run on six hits and four strikeouts over his four innings pitched. The Hickory hitters also turned things around against the Grasshoppers bullpen, with Evan Van Hoosier putting the 'Dads on the board on a solo homer in the 6th to make the score 7-1.
Following the Grasshoppers lone run off of Wiles in the 7th, the Crawdads plated their final two tallies in the 8th when Ronald Guzman doubled in a run before scoring on an RBI single from Nomar Mazara to make score 8-3.
Van Hoosier finished the night 2-5 with a home run and two runs scored. Jairo Beras also had a 2-hit night with a pair of singles in four at-bats, while Guzman ended 1-4 with a double and a RBI.
Milroy (2-1) earned the win for Greensboro, while Ledbetter (1-2) was saddled with the loss for Hickory after allowing seven runs, six earned, on eight hits over four innings pitched.
The loss is the third straight for the Crawdads (9-11), who still hold the season edge three games to two over the Grasshoppers (11-9). The 'Dads will look to get back in the win column against the 'Hoppers on Friday, with a 7:00 pm scheduled first pitch for game two of the series.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 24, 2014
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- RiverDogs Shut out 'Birds, 6-0 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Greenville Takes 9-4 Win over Legends in Series Opener - Lexington Legends
- Intimidators Get 7-4 Win - Rome Emperors
- Long Balls Lead to 8-3 'Dads Defeat - Hickory Crawdads
- GreenJackets Beat Tourists in First Game of Series, 6-5 - Augusta GreenJackets
- Power lose 7-5 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Smith Strikes out 13 Shorebirds in RiverDogs Rout - Charleston RiverDogs
- Randy Ingle to be Inducted in South Atlantic League Hall of Fame - Rome Emperors
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Suns Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Shorebirds Game Notes vs. Charleston - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Seven-Game Homestand Coming up at The Joe - Charleston RiverDogs
- SAL Announces Hall-Of-Fame Class - Hickory Crawdads
- Canseco Appearance July 11 Will Include Home Run Derby Competition with Fans - Lexington Legends
- Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (CWS) at Rome Braves (ATL) - April 24, 2014 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
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