Santana hits walk-off homer, 'Dads win 6-5
Published on August 18, 2009 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, N.C. - LF Cristian Santana hit a pay-off pitch over the left field wall with two on and two out for a walk-off, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Hickory Crawdads to the 6-5 comeback win against the Greenville Drive before 976 fans at L.P. Frans Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Drive (24-26, 63-55) struck first in the contest plating a pair of runs in the first two innings against RHP Jake Brigham to take the early 2-0 lead. C/1B Ty Weeden drove in the run in the first with an RBI single and C Mike Thomas followed with a solo shot in the second frame.
The Crawdads (24-26, 57-62) came right back with two runs on four straight singles against RHP Caleb Clay in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game, 2-2. Santana started the rally with a one-out single and moved to second on a base hit by DH Jared Bolden, who finished the game with three singles and two steals. 3B Matt West then brought Santana in from second and moved Bolden to third with an RBI single. Bolden then scored from third on an RBI single by RF Eric Fry to square the score at two runs apiece.
Greenville moved back in front in the fifth inning, Brigham's final frame of work, on a two-out RBI double by DH Ryan Lavarnway. RHP Carlos Pimentel (5-4) took over on the mound to start the sixth, and dealt a pair of scoreless frames before two unearned runs came in in the eighth, stretching the Drive lead to 5-2. Pimentel got out of the rest of the eighth and pitched a scoreless ninth, sending the game to the bottom of the ninth with Hickory down by three runs.
C Leonel De Los Santos led off the inning with a single and moved to second base on a ground out. CF Cody Podraza then brought De Los Santos in with an RBI single up the middle to make it 5-3. Podraza stole his way to second base and 2B Mike Hollander drew a walk, putting runners at first and second base. An out later, with the Crawdads down to their final out in the game, Santana worked the count full, before crushing a curveball from RHP Felix Ventura (2-6) over the left-field wall for the walk-off, three-run bomb, lifting the Crawdads to the 6-5 come-from-behind win. Pimentel earned the win for Hickory, while Ventura was tagged with the loss.
Crawdads Clippings:
The home series against Greenville continues on Tuesday with Dollar Day at the ballpark and KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets, and all kids run the bases after Wednesday's game, before the series concludes with $1 Beverage Night on Thursday.
The Crawdads then kick off the series against Asheville on Friday night at 7 p.m. with Friday Night Fireworks, sponsored by The Light 106.9 FM, as well as the Extreme Physical Science Show, presented by Catawba Science Center. The Crawdads will also usher former GM David Haas to the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame with a pre-game ceremony before Friday night's game!
Saturday night's game features the Crawdads Beach Towel Giveaway, sponsored by Galaxy Food Centers, Dial Liquid and Bar Soap and WHKY Talk Radio 1290 AM. On Sunday, it's Bark at the Park, presented by KICKS Radio Group, when all fans are invited to bring their dogs to the game! Also, the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive the Crawdads Second Half Team Card Sets, courtesy of Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet. Final bids for the Crawdads Blast from the Past Jersey Auction will be collected in a silent auction on the concourse during the Sunday game as well.
Get Tickets:
Single game tickets for all 2009 Crawdads games are on sale at the Crawdads Ticket Office and online at www.hickorycrawdads.com and start at just $6! Season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available at the Crawdads office, located at 2500 Clement Blvd. NW or by calling 322-3000.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 18, 2009
- Drive's Three-Run Lead Evaporates in Bottom of the 9th - Greenville Drive
- Santana hits walk-off homer, 'Dads win 6-5 - Hickory Crawdads
- Kannapolis Rallies for 11-Inning Win - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Power Take Tenth in a Row - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Tourists Late Rally Falls Short - Asheville Tourists
- Hot Rods Miss Numerous Chances in 15-3 Loss - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Legends Lose in 11, 3-2 - Lexington Legends
- Hogan and Tufts promoted, 'Dads get three new players - Hickory Crawdads
- Wrestling Champion Judas Young at FirstEnergy Park on August 20 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Hot Rods Race Past Hoppers With Six-Run Inning - Greensboro Grasshoppers
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