Three run fourth helps Crawdads sweep Sand Gnats
Published on August 9, 2006 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
The Hickory Crawdads completed a four game sweep of the Savannah Sand Gnats with a 6-5 win at LP Frans Stadium Wednesday night. The âDads outscored Savannah 37-16 in the series and tallied 59 hits in the four games.
Crawdad starter Luis Valdez was touched for a two run homer by Savannah RF Edgardo Baez with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. Hickory responded with a two run shot by RF Brad Corley against Sand Gnat starter Bryan Lambert in the bottom of the first.
Savannah took the lead back on CF Francisco Plasencia's solo homer leading off the second. It stayed 3-2 Gnats until the bottom of the fourth inning.
Down by a run, Crawdad 1B Tony Mansolino reached on an error to start the fourth. Hickory catcher Steve Lerud singled and CF Wanell Macia sacrifice fly tied the game at three. With two outs and Lerud on, SS Cameron Blair doubled. Hickory 2B Shelby Ford followed with a triple that caromed off the first base bag. It scored two and gave Hickory a 5-3 lead.
Savannah got within 5-4 on a sacrifice fly from 2B Alex Nunez scoring catcher Rob Sandora in the top of the fifth. Hickory upped the lead to 6-4 on an RBI double by Ford plating Blair in the sixth.
Savannah made it 6-5 against reliever Jean Garavito in the eighth inning. The Gnats got a run scoring single from LF Ryan Fitzpatrick with two outs that scored DH Tim Pahuta and put runners on the corners. Justin Vaclavik relieved Garavito and Fitzpatrick was caught stealing to end the threat. Vaclavik pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his 11th save.
Valdez (7-4) went five innings and allowed four runs on six hits in the win. Lambert (2-7) gave up five runs (two earned) on seven hits in three and two-third innings in the loss.
The Crawdads travel to Cleveland, OH, to take on the Lake County Captains Friday night. Hickory returns home Saturday, August 19.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 9, 2006
- Braves outslug Power - Charleston Dirty Birds
- D-Rod and I's dispatch Delmarva - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Three run fourth helps Crawdads sweep Sand Gnats - Hickory Crawdads
- Jackets edge Captains 5-4 - Lake County Captains
- RiverDogs beat Hoppers, 3-1, in final game of home stand - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Celebrate Christmas in August with the Catfish - Columbus Catfish
- Greenville Wins Again In Green Uniforms, 3-2 - Greenville Drive
- Suns fall, 3-2 - Hagerstown Suns
- Historic Season Continues For The Drive - Greenville Drive
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.
