Double Losses in Doubleheader for 'Dads
Salisbury, MD - The second place Hickory Crawdads matched up with the third place Delmarva Shorebirds for a big doubleheader Wednesday night, but the pivotal series turned into a tough night at the park for the 'Dads as they dropped both games with 2-0 and 6-1 losses at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
The two clubs were supposed to play a 3-game series, but back-to-back rainouts condensed the matchup to just a single doubleheader. The Crawdads entered the night 2.5 games back of first place Hagerstown in the South Atlantic League Northern Division and a half game ahead of the Shorebirds but the scuffling 'Dads ended the night with two losses to drop to third place, 4 games back of the Suns.
Game 1 was a pitchers' duel between Pedro Payano for Hickory and Cristian Alvarado for Delmarva. The only runs in the contest came in the bottom of the 3rd, when ninth place batter Drew Turbin singled to right to start the frame before coming home to score on an RBI triple by Cedric Mullins. Two outs later, Mullins scored as well on a wild a wild pitch from Payano for a 2-0 Shorebirds lead.
The Crawdads had multiple scoring opportunities throughout the game, especially early, as the club left men in scoring position in each of the first four frames. The 'Dads ended the night outhitting the 'Birds 9-6 but stranding 10 men on base, 7 in scoring position, to end the game with a 2-0 shutout defeat.
Payano (1-2) took the loss for Hickory with 2 runs allowed on 5 hits, 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts over 5 innings pitched, while Alvarado (3-4) earned the win for Delmarva after throwing 5 scoreless innings on 6 hits, 1 walk, and 4 Ks. Shorebirds reliever Garrett Cleavenger (2) picked up the save with 2 shutout innings out of the bullpen.
The nightcap saw the 'Birds jump out to a 3-0 advantage in the 2nd. Alex Murphy started the rally with a leadoff double off of 'Dads starter Jonathan Hernandez, followed two batters later by an RBI, groundball single to center by Steve Laurino. Ricardo Andujar singled one out later before Turbin delivered a 2-RBI double to left for the 3-run Delmarva lead.
The Shorebirds doubled the score two innings later in the 4th, when Austin Anderson laced a solo home run to right and Turbin lined a 2-run, inside-the-park homer to center field for a 6-0 'Dads deficit. The Crawdads scored their first and only run of the night in the top of the 5th when Yeyson Yrizarri doubled with two outs before eventually scoring on a fielding error by Anderson at third base for the final 6-1 score.
Hernandez (5-4) was handed the loss after allowing 6 runs on 6 hits, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts over 5 IP. 'Birds starter Reid Love (3-3) earned the win with 1 unearned run given up on 6 hits, 1 walk, and 5 strikeouts during his 5.2 innings pitched.
Yrizarri led the Hickory hitters in the twinbill, going 3-3 with a double in game 1 before finishing 1-3 with a double and a run scored in the nightcap. Andy Ibanez also had a good night, going 3-6 combined between the two contests.
The Crawdads (29-23) will now head to Lakewood, NJ for a 3-game series against the BlueClaws. First pitch Thursday night is scheduled for 7:05 pm.
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