Spring Training Update: Texas ties Seattle, Bixler leads Bucs to win
The Texas Rangers, the Crawdads major league affiliate, came away with a 10-inning, 7-7 tie against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday after staging a late-inning comeback. RF Nelson Cruz hit his fifth home run of the spring with a two-run shot in the seventh inning to lead the late Texas charge. The homer was part of a two-hit, three-RBI game for Cruz, who is vying for the Rangers regular clean-up spot against lefties this season. The Rangers added another run in the seventh and struck again in the eighth to pull even with Seattle, 7-7, the eventual final score.
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia chipped in with two hits and two RBIs, while CF Andruw Jones also collected a pair of hits and one RBI. CF Josh Hamilton and 2B Joaquin Arias both added a pair of hits. RHP Brandon McCarthy started the game and went 4.2 innings, allowing six earned runs on eight hits in the tune-up. RHP Derrick Turnbow, LHP C.J. Wilson and LHP Jimmy Gobble combined for four scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
At the Plate:
SS Brian Bixler ('05) used his bat and his speed to help the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-2 win against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. The former Crawdad and Pirates heir apparent at short went 3-for-5 on the game, stole a pair of bases and scored a run. C Ryan Doumit ('01-'02) also contributed offensively, going 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, a run scored and a walk. LF Nyger Morgan ('04) continued his pursuit of the Pirates starting outfield post with a 1-for-3 performance, including a run and a walk, while 1B Steven Pearce ('06) came off the bench and knocked a single in his lone at-bat.
Braves 1B Greg Norton ('93) suited up against the Pirates and went 1-for-3 with a run scored for Atlanta.
Seattle 1B Chris Shelton ('02) continued to swing a hot bat, as he went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run, and is hitting .488 in his quest to earn the first base spot for the Mariners this spring.
White Sox SS Brent Lillibridge ('06) went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in Chicago's 2-2 tie against the Cleveland Indians.
On the Mound:
LHP Sean Burnett ('01) took the mound for Pittsburgh in the eighth inning and tossed a scoreless frame, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out one as well.
RHP Jeff Bennett ('00) came out of the Braves bullpen and pitched 2/3 of an inning against Pittsburgh. He allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks in the relief appearance.
Yankees RHP Jonathan Albaladejo ('03) retired the lone batter that he faced in the sixth inning of New York's 7-1 win against the Boston Red Sox.
Crawdads Clippings:
The Crawdads Open House is coming up on April 4 and features a great ticket deal and fun for the whole family! Don't miss this one-time-only opportunity to purchase Crawdads tickets for just $4, as part of the Crawdads Fun for $4 Open House Special. Single game tickets (excluding the games on July 4th and July 26th) will be on sale for just $4 only at the Crawdads Ticket Office during Open House, which will run from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Fans will also have the opportunity to meet and hug local-area newsmen, including Larry Sprinkle from WCNC Channel 36, Todd Calloway (managing editor from the Hickory Daily Record), Jason Savage (Sports Talk Host on WHKY) and others, as part of the Crawdads celebration of National Hug a Newsman Day!
For more information on Open House, call the Crawdads Front Office at (328) 322-3000.