Velazquez blasts 'Dads past Braves, 5-3
Published on May 22, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
HICKORY, NC - The Hickory Crawdads struck for three runs in the seventh on CF Miguel Velazquez's team-leading eighth homer of the season to defeat the Rome Braves, 5-3, before 2,626 fans at L.P. Frans Stadium on Friday night. With the win, Hickory stays in control of first place in the Northern Division with a two-game lead over the Hagerstown Suns.
With the Crawdads (26-16) trailing, 3-2, going into the bottom of the seventh, SS Edwin Garcia hit a leadoff single to center against Rome reliever RHP Ryan Weber (0-3, 7.16 ERA). After 2B Joe Bonadonna grounded out to first, Matt West flied to right for what appeared to be the second out, but RF Cory Harrilchak dropped the ball, allowing Garcia to move to third with West reaching second on the play. Velazquez then stepped in to face Weber and launched a majestic home run to left-center field to give Hickory the 5-3 lead.
'Dads starter RHP Joe Wieland (3-2, 3.35 ERA) faced the minimum through the first three innings before Rome (16-25) got on the board in the fouth. With one out in the inning, Harrilchak reached on a walk, stole second, and scored on a single up the middle by DH Robert Hefflinger for a 1-0 lead.
Hickory answered back with a run of its own in the bottom of the fourth. RF Jared Prince was hit by a pitch from Braves starter LHP Christopher Masters. DH Vinny DiFazio stepped in and ran the count full before hurting himself on a swing and being replaced in the at-bat by DH Leonel De Los Santos. De Los Santos took advantage of the opportunity, smacking a double to left-center to score Prince and tie the game up at one.
Rome added two more runs in the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Hefflinger and 3B Jordan Kreke and an RBI sac fly by C Christian Bethancourt. The Crawdads pulled to within one on an RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth by LF Cristian Santana, making it 3-2.
Wieland picked up the win for Hickory, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk while fanning six. RHP Trevor Hurley recorded his first save of the season with a perfect ninth. Weber was saddled with the loss for the Braves.
With a hit-by-pitch in the third inning, West tied the all-time Crawdads leader in that category, current Washington Nationals CF Nyger Morgan, with 33.
South Atlantic League Stories from May 22, 2010
- Drive Lose 15-Inning Heartbreaker, 8-6, to GreenJackets - Greenville Drive
- Jackets Win Second Marathon This Week - Augusta GreenJackets
- Shorebirds Win Thriller On 15th Inning Walk Off - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Suns Fall to Shorebirds in 15 - Hagerstown Suns
- RiverDogs Come Back to Bite Sand Gnats, 7-6 - Charleston RiverDogs
- Seven -run fifth keys Legends victory - Lexington Legends
- Intimidators Walk 13, Lose 13-4 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Ross pitches seven scoreless as 'Dads shutout Rome, 1-0 - Hickory Crawdads
- Velazquez blasts 'Dads past Braves, 5-3 - Hickory Crawdads
- BlueClaws lose to West Virginia - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Savannah Sand Gnats Game Notes May 22, 2010 - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Delmarva Shorebirds Game Notes May 22, 2010 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Delmarva Shorebirds Game Notes May 22, 2010 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- West Virginia Power Game Notes May 22, 2010 - Charleston Dirty Birds
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.
