Walk it Out: 'Dads Fall, 9-2

August 31, 2008 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release

Hickory issued 11 walks, seven hits and hit four batters in seeing the Greenville Drive take game two of their series, 9-2, Sunday. On Fan Appreciation Night at L.P. Frans Stadium, the Crawdads (21-47, 51-87) hung tough for the first five innings with the Drive (30-38, 70-68), only trailing 3-2 going into the sixth. But Greenville would score once in the sixth, use a David Mailman three-run home run for insurance in the seventh and then tack on a Carlos Fernandez two-run single in the ninth for bonus runs.

The on-base parade began early for the Drive, as Hickory starter Rafael De Los Santos walked seven batters and hit three in four innings of work. The seven free passes set a season high for Crawdads pitchers and the team allowed 11 total, falling two shy of the franchise mark for most given out in one game (13 -- April 27, 2007 at Greensboro).

Before Mailman and Fernandez struck late, Greenville had scored twice on bases loaded wild pitches, once on an RBI groundout and once on an RBI single.

De Los Santos would still only allow three runs in his four innings but would get saddled with the loss, dropping to 3-10 on the season.

He joined Duke Welker as the first pair of 'Dads pitchers to both lose 10 games in a season since 1999, and the fourth tandem to do so in the team's 16-year history.

Offensively for Hickory, Matt Hague and Joey Munoz each had two singles, while Tom Hagan hit a solo home run for his seventh blast of the year. Jordy Mercer also extended his active team-high hitting streak to nine games with a fourth-inning single.

Greenville starter Brock Huntzinger improved to 2-3 with the win, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk in five innings, striking out two.

With the victory, the Drive assured a season series win over the 'Dads, as Hickory moved to 5-8 against Greenville with only Monday's meeting left on the schedule.

Monday's game will be the last for both teams in 2008 and will kick off at 1 p.m.

Hickory sends RHP Duke Welker (3-13, 5.68 ERA) -- who started the first game of the season -- against Greenville LHP Jose Alvarez (8-8, 5.52).

For tickets and your last chance to see the Crawdads play in 2008, call the 'Dads at (828) 322-3000 or visit www.hickorycrawdads.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 31, 2008

• Hoppers Walk Off With Win - Greensboro Grasshoppers
• Captains Drop Fourth Straight - Lake County Captains
• Eighth Inning Rally, Tourists Fall Short 10-6 - Asheville Tourists
• Jackets Hold Off Late Tourists Rally for Win - Augusta GreenJackets
• RiverDogs roll to 10-2 win - Savannah Sand Gnats
• Two Home Runs by Pahuta Push Suns Past Captains - Hagerstown Suns
• BlueClaws crack 80 wins with 5-4 victory - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
• Power Fall in Slugfest Against Kannapolis - Charleston Dirty Birds
• Lakewood Claws Past Birds 5-4 - Delmarva Shorebirds
• Walk it Out: 'Dads Fall, 9-2 - Hickory Crawdads
• Drive Cruise Past Crawdads, 9-2 - Greenville Drive
• Fish Reel in Braves - Rome Emperors
• Captains Fall in 10 Innings - Lake County Captains

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