Game Preview: Hickory Crawdads vs. Rome Braves
Hickory (15-11, 1 GB), 2nd Northern Division
Rome (10-17, 6.5 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 pulled even in the series against the Braves with an 8-3 win in the second game of the set on Thursday night. The Hickory win ended a four-game skid and kept the Crawdads just a game back of the Kannapolis Intimidators for first place in the Northern Division second half standings. Rome, who has won four of its last six games, currently ranks in eighth place in the Southern Division second half standings, trailing the first place Asheville Tourists by 6.5 games. The Crawdads and Braves will meet once more following this evening, in the series finale at L.P. Frans Stadium on Saturday night.
ON THE MOUND:
Crawdads:
RHP Wilfredo Boscan, 19, will make the start on the mound for the Crawdads this evening. The native of Maracaibo, Venezuela, has posted a 4-5 record with a 3.34 ERA through his first 12 starts and 14 appearances on the season. Boscan has tossed a total of 59.1 innings, surrendering 22 earned runs (34 overall) on 56 hits with just 13 walks and 35 strikeouts. He took on the Sand Gnats in his last start on July 18 and allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts through four innings in the loss. As a starting pitcher, Boscan has gone 4-5 with a 2.96 ERA, as opposed to 0-0 with a 7.71 ERA in two relief outings. He signed with the Texas Rangers in 2006 and led the Northwest League with nine victories last season, as a member of the league champion Spokane Indians.
Rome:
The Braves will send RHP Zeke Spruill, 19, to the mound to start tonight's game. Spruill, a native of Marietta, Georgia, is 7-5 with a 3.09 ERA through 16 starts and one relief appearance this season. In 99 total innings of work, Spruill has given up 48 runs (34 earned) on 107 hits with 20 walks and 78 strikeouts. Spruill struck out seven in his last start, against West Virginia on July 18, and surrendered two runs on five hits through five innings. Spruill posted a season-high 10 strikeouts in eight shutout innings against Lexington on July 7 and has given up only four runs in his last three starts (17.2 innings) combined. He was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the second round of the 2008 draft out of high school.
PROMOTIONAL NOTES:
Don't miss the Crawdads Friday Night Fireworks Show after tonight's game, presented by WNNC Stereo 1230AM.
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.