Win Streak Ends with 'Dads 4-3 Defeat
Published on April 25, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Hickory, NC - The Hickory Crawdads saw their 6-game win streak come to an end Saturday night, as the 'Dads left the tying run on third base in the 8th and came up one run short in their rally resulting in a 4-3 loss to the Kannapolis Intimidators at L.P. Frans Stadium.
A Crawdads team that hadn't added to the loss column in a week still brought their customary power to the plate with five extra base hits including two home runs, but the 'Dads couldn't add anything else as they finished the night with five total hits and four runners left in scoring position. The pitching staff meanwhile saw three Hickory hurlers combine for seven scoreless innings of work with 10 Ks, but the Intimidators were able to put together a two-inning surge that produced all four of their runs on five of their eight total hits.
The beginning of the game saw Crawdads starting pitcher Brett Martin and Intimidators starter Thad Lowry each put up zeros over the first three frames. The 'Dads broke up the shutout in the 4th when Tripp Martin crushed a solo home run to left field for his fourth long ball of the year and a 1-0 Hickory advantage. The lead held through the 5th, with Brett Martin ending his night after five shutout innings, allowing three hits, one walk, and five strikeouts.
The 'Dads turned the bullpen in the 6th, bringing in right-hander Nick Gardewine who had not allowed a run all year over three appearances and 9.1 IP. The 21-year-old reliever could not keep the scoreless streak going however, as the Intimidators jumped on him for three runs on four hits to make the score 3-1. The inning could have been worse for the Crawdads had it not been for a great throw by left fielder Eduard Pinto, who gunned out Kannapolis runner Michael Suiter at the plate for the first out of the inning. Intimidators manager Tommy Thompson was eventually ejected by home plate umpire Jacob Metz for arguing after the play.
Hickory cut their deficit in half in the bottom of the frame when Jose Trevino hit his league-leading fifth homer of the year to left field, with the solo homer making the score 3-2. Kannapolis quickly responded in the next half inning however, when Eddy Alvarez lined a solo blast of his own to right to push the score to 4-2.
After threatening but ultimately leaving a man at second base in the 7th, the Crawdads attempted one last rally in the 8th when Ronald Guzman lined an RBI double down the left field line to plate Travis Demeritte and bring the 'Dads within a run at 4-3. Two batters later, Luke Tendler hit a hard ground ball to the right side of the infield that initially appeared to be a game-tying, RBI single, but Intimidators first baseman Chris Curley made a diving stop and threw out Tendler to end the frame. The 'Dads went down in order in the 9th to end the game with a 4-3 loss.
Martin finished the night 2-3 with a home run, double, walk, and RBI, while Trevino went 1-4 with his long ball.
Lowry (3-0) earned the win for Kannapolis with two runs allowed on four hits, one walk, and six strikeouts over six innings pitched. Gardewine (2-1) took the loss for the 'Dads after giving up four runs on four hits over his two frames on the mound. Intimidators reliever David Trexler (1) earned the save with one run given up over the final three innings of the game.
The Crawdads (12-4) will still go for the series win over the Intimidators (7-9) in the finale Sunday night, with first pitch scheduled for 5:00 pm.
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