Tourists Hang on for 5-3 Win Against Crawdads
August 23, 2009 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, N.C. - The Hickory Crawdads struck for three runs in the seventh and eighth innings, but the Asheville Tourists hung on for the 5-3 win before 1,593 fans at L.P. Frans Stadium on Sunday afternoon. C Vinny DiFazio, who joined the team on Aug. 18, hit a home run in his third consecutive game, and has seven RBIs in his first four contests with the Crawdads.
The Tourists (35-19, 61-62) came out swinging against RHP Jake Brigham (2-8), hitting three home runs through the first four innings to open a 5-0 lead. 3B Ryan Peisel started the scoring with a solo shot in the second, 2B Jimmy Cesario followed with a two-run homer in the third and SS Thomas Field hit a two-run bomb in the fourth.
RHP Carlos Pimentel took over on the mound to begin the fifth inning, and proceeded to toss scoreless frame after scoreless frame, shutting out the Tourists the rest of the way with only four hits allowed and seven strikeouts registered. Since July 28, Pimentel has not allowed an earned run in his last 22.0 innings of work, spanning five relief appearances.
The Crawdads (25-30, 58-66) began the late comeback attempt by getting on the board against Asheville starter RHP Juan Nicasio (9-2) in the bottom of the seventh inning. 1B Jared Bolden led off the inning with his third triple of the season on a deep fly ball to right-center field, and then scored on an RBI grounder hit by DH Matt West to second base. Hickory continued the comeback attempt in the bottom of the eighth inning with Nicasio still on the mound for the Tourists. CF Cody Podraza ripped a one-out single to right field, before DiFazio belted a two-out, two-run bomb over the left field wall, extending his homer streak to three straight games.
RHP Adam Jorgensen came in for Asheville and, for the second straight game, closed the contest with a one-two-three bottom of the ninth, completing the 5-3 win for the Tourists. Brigham was tagged with the loss for the Crawdads, while Nicasio earned the win for Asheville.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 23, 2009
- Suns Split Double-Header With Shorebirds - Hagerstown Suns
- RiverDogs Erupt in Dramatic 14-13 Triumph - Charleston RiverDogs
- RiverDogs Even Series With Slugfest Win - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shortstop Smacks Another Double as Hot Rods lose 6th Straight - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Ryan Lavarnway's Solo Homer Accounts for Greenville's Only Run - Greenville Drive
- Another Victory as Kannapolis Routs Bowling Green, 9-3 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Power Snap Skid - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Legends Take Second Straight in Greensboro, 5-2 - Lexington Legends
- Tourists Hang on for 5-3 Win Against Crawdads - Hickory Crawdads
- Braves Fall Short Again - Rome Emperors
- BlueClaws, Captains Postponed - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Tourists Blast Away In Hickory.. Again - Asheville Tourists
- Grasshoppers snap streak with Game 2 loss - Greensboro Grasshoppers
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