Hickory, NC- The Crawdads and RiverDogs split a double header this afternoon. The RiverDogs won the first game 4-1 but the 'Dads bounced back and picked up a 7-4 victory in the second game.
Hickory, NC- The Crawdads and RiverDogs split a double header this afternoon. The RiverDogs won the first game 4-1 but the 'Dads bounced back and picked up a 7-4 victory in the second game.
The 'Dads took an early lead in game one, on a homerun to center by Ryan Dorow. The RiverDogs responded in the top of the second to take the lead off Crawdads starter Tyler Phillips. The RiverDogs scored two more in the third to give them a 4-1 lead that they would hold onto for the remainder of the game. Phillips finished the afternoon with six innings, three earned runs allowed and seven strike outs.
Right hander Derek Heffel started the second game for the 'Dads, his first start of the season. Heffel allowed an early run to give the RiverDogs a 1-0 lead in the first.
The 'Dads tied up the game at one run each in the second inning. The run came courtesy of Clay Middleton, his first of the season. They loaded the bases in the fourth and took the lead with a sacrifice fly by Austin O'Banion. They opened up their lead with a grand slam by Ryan Dorow, his second homerun of the afternoon and team-leading sixth of the season. The grand slam was the 'Dads first of the season.
The RiverDogs closed the gap with a pair of runs in the fifth. Heffel's final line for the afternoon was five innings, five hits, three runs (only two earned), one walk, and two strike outs.
Yonny Hernandez gave the 'Dads a run back on an infield ground out that allowed Tyler Ratliff to score.
Lefty Sal Mendez closed the game out for the Crawdads, throwing the final two innings and allowing a run, to seal the 7-4 victory. The 'Dads recorded the final out of the game on a pitch in the dirt that RiverDogs batter kicked away from catcher Yohel Pozo. The batter was called out for interference.
The homestand will wrap up tomorrow with a Memorial Day Matinee at 1pm. Tyree Thompson (2-3, 4.89 ERA) will take the mound for the 'Dads. He will face the RiverDog's lefty (2-3, 2.61 ERA).
