Hickory held off the BlueClaws 5-3 on Friday from LP Frans Stadium, but the BlueClaws still lead the division by 2.5 games. ---
Hickory held off the BlueClaws 5-3 on Friday from LP Frans Stadium, but the BlueClaws still lead the division by 2.5 games.
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HICKORY, NC - Yonny Hernandez had three hits and two RBIs and DeMarcus Evans got the last eight outs as Hickory topped the BlueClaws 5-3 on Friday night from LP Frans Stadium.
The Crawdads (36-24/66-62) pull back to within 2.5 games of the BlueClaws (38-21/79-49) in the SAL North with 10 games remaining after Lakewood took the first game of the series on Thursday night.
Jake Scheiner homered in the first and Jhailyn Ortiz homered in the third for Lakewood, each hitting a solo home run for their 12th long ball of the year, putting the BlueClaws up 2-1.
Hickory took the lead with two runs in the third. they tied the game on Yonny Hernandez's RBI double and then took a 3-2 lead on Ryan Dorow's RBI single.
Tyreque Reed took Andrew Brown deep in the fifth inning for a 5-2 advantage. It was Reed's 15th home run of the year.
The BlueClaws threatened in the top of the fifth, but reliever Jean Casanova came on to strike out Jake Scheiner with two on base to end the inning.
Crawdads starter Tyree Thompson gave up two runs in 4.2 innings with four strikeouts and three walks. He did not factor in the decision. Lakewood's Brown came out after 4.2 innings, allowing a season-high five runs on four hits and three walks.
Lakewood got a run back off Jean Casanova in the seventh courtesy of a Matt Vierling RBI single, but after DeMarcus Evans relieved Jean Casanova, Vierling was thrown out trying to advance to third on a ball in the dirt to end the threat.
Evans got the last eight outs to earn the win, improving to 3-1. He struck out four.
Tyler Fallwell gave up one hit and struck out a season high six over 3.1 innings of scoreless relief for the BlueClaws.
Vierling had two hits for Lakewood and is now 21-63 in August.
The teams continue their four-game series on Saturday night at 7:05 pm. RHP Julian Garcia (6-3) starts for Lakewood opposite RHP Hans Crouse (0-1).
- BlueClaws -
