Big Innings Bolster Crawdads to 8-7 Win

Hickory, NC - The Hickory Crawdads found themselves in a back-and-forth slugfest against the visiting Rome Braves Saturday night, with the 'Dads landing the final big blow as a 3-run 7^th inning lifted Hickory to an 8-7 win in front of 3,486 fans at L.P. Frans Stadium.

The Crawdads and Braves combined 15 runs, 23 hits, 9 extra-base hits, 4 lead changes, and 3 innings with 3 or more runs scored on the night. Rome came out swinging first with 3 runs in the 3^rd, 2 in the 6^th, and single tallies in the 7^th and 8^th frames, while Hickory responded with 1 run in the 4^th, 4 in the 5^th, and 3 in the 7^th to finish with their highest run output in nearly two weeks.

All 9 Hickory hitters finished the game reaching base safely at least once, with 6 batters scoring a run and four separate players collecting two RBI. Ninth place batter Frandy De La Rosa led the charge with a 2-3 night including 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Chris Garia went 1-4 with a home run, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored, Andy Ibanez finished 1-3 with 2 RBI, and Dylan Moore completed the game 1-3 with a double and 2 RBI.

It was the visiting Braves who got on the scoreboard first, as Rome got to 'Dads starter Dillon Tate for 3 runs on 4 hits, including 3 doubles, for a 3-0 lead. Yeudi Grullon started the rally with a double to right before Luke Dykstra delivered an RBI single and both Juan Yepez and Justin Ellison knocked in runs with consecutive doubles.

Hickory got on the board and cut their deficit to 3-1 in the 4^th, with a triple by Eric Jenkins and an RBI base knock from Ibanez. The Crawdads then erupted for 4 runs in the 5^th to take their first lead of the night at 5-3. Josh Altmann and Ti'Quan Forbes started the frame with consecutive singles, before Chuck Moorman advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt and De La Rosa delivered a 2-RBI single to left. Garia followed with an opposite field, 2-run homer to right for his third long ball of the season and a 1-run 'Dads lead.

Rome came right back in the top of the 6^th, as the Braves used errors by both De La Rosa at second base and Garia in left field to score 2 unearned runs and tie the score at 5-5. Rome then re-took the lead in the top of the 7^th with three straight singles by Dykstra, Jonathan Morales, and Yepez combining to put the Braves on top 6-5.

The 'Dads had one last big frame in them however, as the home team came through for 3 runs, 2 earned, on two hits, two walks, and an error in the bottom of the 7^th to take an 8-6 lead. Moorman and De La Rosa both reached on a walk and bunt single respectively to start the rally, before Garia laid down a sacrifice bunt that was misplayed by Braves reliever Taylor Lewis to load the bases with nobody out. One out later, Ibanez drew a walk that forced in a run and tied the score. The next man up was Moore, who gave Hickory the advantage with a 2-RBI single to right.

The Braves refused to go down quietly, with a hit-by-pitch and an RBI double from Dykstra cutting the score to 8-7 in the 8^th. Rome then led off the 9^th with a double by Yepez to put the tying run in scoring position. Crawdads reliever Joe Palumbo stopped the rally there however with a strikeout and two fly outs for an 8-7 Hickory victory.

'Dads reliever Adam Choplick (1-0) earned the win with 1 run allowed on 3 hits, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts over his 1 inning pitched, while Braves bullpen arm Taylor Lewis (0-3) took the loss after giving up three runs on three hits, two walks, and 1 K over 2 IP. Palumbo recorded his team-leading 5^th save after closing out the game with 1 run allowed over 2 IP.

The Crawdads (24-11) will go for the series win over the Braves (12-23) Sunday afternoon, with first pitch of the series finale scheduled for 3:00 pm.

 

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