Rally Falls Just Short in 'Dads 7-6 Loss
June 22, 2013 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Hickory, NC - The Hickory Crawdads tried their best for a dramatic comeback Saturday night, but in the end the rally fell just short as the 'Dads lost to the Greensboro Grasshoppers 7-6 in front of 3,463 fans at L.P. Frans Stadium.
The Crawdads fronted the Grasshoppers a 7-0 lead, with Greensboro scoring five in the second, once in the fourth and once in the fifth. The Greensboro surge was paced by a couple of homers, with second baseman Anthony Gomez lining a 2-run home run in the second and third baseman Yordy Cabrera hitting a solo shot in the fifth to put Greensboro up by seven.
During that same span the 'Dads were no-hit by Grasshoppers starting pitcher Austin Brice. The 6'4" right-hander entered the game with a 5.85 ERA, but proceeded to hold the 'Dads hitless over five shutout innings.
Greensboro finally went to the bullpen in the 6th, a move that seemed to re-awaken the Hickory lineup. Joey Gallo broke up the no-no with a two-out single up the middle, followed by another single from Ronald Guzman. Ryan Rua came up next and drew a full-count walk to load the bases with two away for Jorge Alfaro. The All-Star catcher came through with a 2-RBI single to right followed by another 2-RBI single from Nomar Mazara to cut the 'Dads deficit to 7-4.
The Crawdads picked up another run in the seventh when third baseman Nick Urbanus doubled to start the frame and eventually came in on a fielding error by Greensboro shortstop Yeison Hernandez to make the score 7-5.
The score was cut to 7-6 in the eighth, when Mazara came through again with a solo homer to right. The blast was Mazara's 7th of the year and the 112th of the season for the Crawdads.
The 'Dads had one final chance to complete their comeback in the 9th, but Nick Williams and Gallo both flew out to the wall in center field to end the game at 7-6.
Mazara finished the night 2-4 with a homer, a double and three RBI while Alfaro went 1-4 with two RBI.
Brice (4-6) earned the win for his five no-hit innings while Hickory starting pitcher Frank Lopez (2-1) took the loss after giving up seven runs on eight hits and seven strikeouts in his five innings pitched. Greensboro reliever Frankie Reed (8) earned the save for his scoreless ninth.
The loss is the first of the second half of the season for the Crawdads and drops them to 2-1, while the Grasshoppers improve to 1-2 with the win. The 'Dads will go for the series win in the fourth and final game against Greensboro Sunday evening at 5:00 pm.
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