Martin Mashes 'Dads to Extra Inning Win
Published on May 1, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Greensboro, NC - It may have taken three innings longer than anticipated, but the Hickory Crawdads left Greensboro with a win Thursday night as the 'Dads overcame a blown lead in the 9th to beat the Grasshoppers 5-3 in 12 innings at NewBridge Bank Park.
The Crawdads entered the 9th frame with a 3-2 advantage they had nursed since the 6th, but Greensboro rallied against Hickory reliever Jefri Hernandez to score the game-tying run to send the contest to extras. The 'Dads had opportunities to score in both the 10th and 11th frames, but came up empty each time with manager Corey Ragsdale earning an ejection arguing a play in the 11th. Finally in the 12th, Crawdads DH Tripp Martin launched an opposite field, 2-run home run to right to give the 'Dads the 5-3 lead they would win by.
The victory gave Hickory the series win over Greensboro two games to one. The Crawdads have now won all six of their series to begin the year and own the best record in the South Atlantic League at 15-5.
The 'Dads jumped out to an early lead in the game with a pair of runs in the 2nd for a 2-0 advantage. Luke Tendler started the frame with a double down the right field line, giving the slugger a league-leading 11 two-base hits on the season. Martin followed with a single to center before Eduard Pinto brought home Tendler on an RBI groundout. Martin eventually scored on a passed ball for the second run of the inning.
The Crawdads extended their lead to 3-0 in the 4th, with Tendler once again providing the spark with a leadoff triple to right followed by another passed ball from Grasshoppers catcher Rodrigo Vigil to score the run. Hickory's offense dried up from there however, allowing Greensboro to chip away at the deficit. After three perfect innings to start the night, the Grasshoppers finally got to Crawdads pitcher Nick Gardewine for an unearned run on two hits in the 4th to make the score 3-1. Two innings later the 'Hoppers cut the score to 3-2 with a run off of Hickory reliever Trey Lambert in the 6th before ultimately tying the game in the 9th.
The 12-inning, three hour and 38 minute contest was the longest in terms of both innings and game length for the 'Dads this season. The club is now 2-0 in extra innings affairs.
Tendler ended the night 3-6 with a double, triple, and three runs scored, while Martin finished 3-5 with a homer, two RBI, and two runs scored. Martin's extra inning long ball was his sixth of the season, tying him with teammate Jose Trevino for the league lead.
Hernandez (2-0) earned the win for the 'Dads, with the right-hander recovering from the blown save to allow one run on four hits and four strikeouts over three innings pitched. Fellow Hickory reliever Chris Dula (2) earned the save with a scoreless bottom of the 12th. Gardewine (5), Lambert (6), and Hernandez (4) combined to tie the team's season high with 15 strikeouts on the night. Grasshoppers reliever Sam Alvis (1-2) took the loss after giving up Martin's homer in the 12th.
The Crawdads (15-5) will now head to Charleston to start a four-game series with the Southern Division leading RiverDogs (13-8). First pitch for game one on Friday night is scheduled for 7:05 pm.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 1, 2015
- Suns Top Drive, 3-2 - Greenville Drive
- Augusta wins 5-4 - Augusta GreenJackets
- Late Rally Too Little for 'Dads in Loss - Hickory Crawdads
- GreenJackets Buzz Past Shorebirds, 5-4 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Claws Clip Gnats 2-1 Friday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Greensboro Takes Early Lead, Hangs on to Top Power - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Suns Hang on for 3-2 Win over Drive in Series Opener - Hagerstown Suns
- RiverDogs Pinch Crawdads 3-2 in Opener - Charleston RiverDogs
- Lowry Takes Hard-Luck Loss against Rome - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Near No-Hitter Nets Tourists a Win over Legends - Asheville Tourists
- Hockenberry Locks Down 2-1 Win in Savannah on Friday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- No-Hit Bid Ends in Ninth as Tourists Win Series Opener - Lexington Legends
- McFarland Activated from DL; Haddad Joins RiverDogs - Charleston RiverDogs
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Downtown Crawdads Bash Announced - Hickory Crawdads
- Bierfeldt's Heroics Lift 'Birds in 9th, 7-6 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Martin Mashes 'Dads to Extra Inning Win - Hickory Crawdads
- GreenJackets Win in Walk-off Fashion Thursday Night - Augusta GreenJackets
- Braves Top Legends 5-2 - Lexington Legends
- R'Dogs Silence Crowd, Salvage Series Finale 5-4 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Tourists Battle to the End; Fall 5-4 to RiverDogs - Asheville Tourists
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