Game Preview: Hickory Crawdads vs. West Virginia Power
Hickory (33-35, 9.0 GB), 5th Northern Division
West Virginia (26-43, 16.5 GB), 8th Northern Division
Time: Gates open at 6 p.m., first pitch is at 7 p.m.
Place: L.P. Frans Stadium
Radio: The Big Dawg 92.1 FM
Webcast: Hickorycrawdads.com
SERIES BREAKDOWN:
The Crawdads and the Power meet today for the sixth time this season, wrapping up a four-game series at L.P. Frans Stadium as well as the first half of the season. The Crawdads have taken the last two games by the scores of 10-8 on Friday and 10-2 last night, and have posted a 3-2 record against the Power so far this season. The Crawdads and Power will meet seven more times this season following today, with four more games at L.P. Frans Stadium and three more at Appalachian Power Park in Charleston.
ON THE MOUND:
Crawdads:
LHP Martin Perez, 18, will make the start on the mound for the Crawdads today. The native of Guanare Estado Portuquesa, Venezuela, has made 13 appearances and seven starts so far this season. In 55.2 total innings of work, he's given up 24 runs (18 earned) on 48 hits with 23 walks and 66 strikeouts. In his last outing, Perez tossed two innings out of the bullpen in Greensboro and struck out the side in both frames, registering six strikeouts in the brief outing before a rain delay. He is in his second full season of professional baseball after signing with the Texas Rangers in 2007 and spending the 2008 campaign with the Spokane Indians (Northwest League). Perez is one of the Crawdads league-high six players selected to the 2009 SAL All-Star Game.
West Virginia:
The Power will send LHP Rudy Owens, 21, is set to make his 14th start of the season today. The native of Mesa, Arizona, is tied for the 3rd in the South Atlantic League with seven wins on the season, posting a 7-1 record with a 2.20 ERA so far. He's surrendered 20 runs (17 earned) on 51 hits in 69.2 innings this season, with 65 strikeouts and 11 walks. Owens shutout the Crawdads through seven innings with eight strikeouts and only four hits allowed back on June 11 in Charleston, and followed that outing with an eight-inning shutout performance, logging nine strikeouts and giving up just one hit against the Kannapolis Intimidators in his last start on June 16. Owens was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 28th round of the 2006 draft.
PROMOTIONAL NOTES:
The Crawdads are celebrating Fathers' Day with Father and Child Catch, Bark at the Park and America's Best Frizbee Dogs all at the ballpark today, sponsored by Merial, Piedmont Veterinarian Medical Association and WNNC 1230AM. The Father and Child Catch will take place on the field from 1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., before the 3 p.m. first pitch. Everyone is invited to bring their dogs down to L.P. Frans Stadium to catch some baseball and the performance of the Frizbee Dogs!
GET TICKETS:
Single game tickets for all Crawdads games are on sale now at the Crawdads Ticket Office and online at www.hickorycrawdads.com and start at just $6! Season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available at the Crawdads office, located at 2500 Clement Blvd. NW or by calling 322-3000.