Sweep Eludes Crawdads with 3-0 Defeat
Published on August 28, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Lakewood, NJ - The Hickory Crawdads slim playoff hopes officially ended Thursday night, as the 'Dads were eliminated from the Northern Division race with a 3-0 shutout loss to the Lakewood BlueClaws at FirstEnergy Park.
For the third straight night the Crawdads received a standout pitching performance from their starter, this time with Tyler Smith striking out seven and allowing only one run during his six innings pitched. The 'Dads bats were unable to replicate their late rallies from the past two games, however, giving Hickory their eighth shutout loss of the season and denying the Crawdads the series sweep over the BlueClaws.
The first five frames of the ballgame were a pitcher's duel between Smith and 'Claws starter Yoel Mecias, with the 'Dads and 'Claws entering the 6th inning scoreless. Lakewood finally got to Smith and broke up the shutout in the bottom of the frame, with a leadoff walk to Andrew Knapp and a double by Dylan Cozens setting the stage for a RBI groundout from Willians Astudillo to give the BlueClaws a 1-0 lead.
The 'Claws stretched their advantage to 3-0 in the 7th, scoring two runs on a 2-out walk to Malquin Canelo, a RBI triple by Andrew Pullin, and a wild pitch by Hickory reliever Scott Williams. The Crawdads got their leadoff batter aboard in both the 7th and 9th, but Lakewood relievers Delvi Francisco and Joe DeNato worked out of both innings to finish off the 'Dads 3-0 loss.
Mecias (3-3) earned the win for the BlueClaws after tossing six shutout frames on four hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts. Smith (7-6) took the hard-luck loss with one run given up over his six innings pitched. DeNato earned his first save of the season with a scoreless 9th.
Ronald Guzman led the Hickory offense with a 3-4 night including a double, while Joe Jackson finished the game 2-4 with a double.
The Crawdads (36-30) will now head to Delmarva to start a season-ending four game series with the Shorebirds. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 7:05 pm.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 28, 2014
- Sweep Eludes Crawdads with 3-0 Defeat - Hickory Crawdads
- Gsellman and Gnats Swat Jackets; End Losing Streak - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Power defeat Legends 12-7 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Suns Clinch Playoff Spot Despite Series Loss at Asheville - Hagerstown Suns
- Gsellman and Gnats Swat Jackets; End Losing Streak - Savannah Sand Gnats
- West Virginia Rallies, Beats Legends in 10, 12-7 - Lexington Legends
- Asheville Wraps up Regular Season Home Finale with a Win - Asheville Tourists
- Shorebirds Lose Swing Game, 6-1 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Olympian Helps Intimidators Skate Past Rome - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Mecias, Claws Blank Hickory 3-0 in Home Finale - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Drive Shut out for Second Straight Night - Greenville Drive
- Niebla Lifts RiverDogs to Shutout in Home Finale - Charleston RiverDogs
- Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) vs. Rome Braves (Braves) - August 28, 2014 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Tourists Place a League-Best Three Players on End of the Year SAL All-Star Team - Asheville Tourists
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Shorebirds Game Notes at Greensboro - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Gant and Morris Join Manager Rojas and Coach Valdes as Annual All-Stars - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Difo, Giolito Earn Top SAL Honors - Hagerstown Suns
- Willians Astudillo Named to SAL Post-Season All-Star Team - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Hoppers Look to Gain Momentum for Playoffs - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Four Hits from "All-Time" Pace Hoppers - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Jones Honored by SAL - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Carlos Asuaje Named to SAL Annual All-Star Team - Greenville Drive
- Legends Hold on for 4-3 Win over West Virginia - Lexington Legends
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
