Crawdads win 4 straight, increase division lead

After putting together a five-game winning streak from July 30 through Aug. 4, the Hickory Crawdads suffered back-to-back losses over the subsequent two nights — the first of which was a 7-5 home defeat at the hands of the Augusta (Ga.) GreenJackets that was reported in last week’s edition of The Paper — for the first time since they lost three games in a row July 7-9.

Nevertheless, Hickory responded with a separate run of four consecutive victories that began on Aug. 7, and despite a 5-4 road loss to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers on Wednesday, the Crawdads entered Thursday’s late game between the teams at 65-42 overall and 31-12 since the second half of the Single-A Carolina League season started on June 19. And thanks to its most recent winning streak, Hickory increased its lead in the South Division’s second-half standings to 6 1/2 games over the Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs.

The Crawdads and Cannon Ballers also faced off on Friday before battling again tonight (Saturday, Aug. 15) at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m., while Hickory will then return home for six games against the Delmarva (Md.) Shorebirds beginning on Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. at L.P. Frans Stadium.

Here’s more information from the games that the Crawdads played between Aug. 6-12 …

THURSDAY, AUG. 6

Augusta 3, Hickory 2

Paulino Santana (double, two singles, run, SB) led the Crawdads with three hits, but the rest of Hickory’s lineup combined for just two hits.

Kolby Branch (single, two RBIs) and Noah Franklin (single) had the remaining hits for the hosts.

FRIDAY, AUG. 7

Hickory 4, Augusta 3

Despite being outhit 12-4, the Crawdads got back in the win column with a one-run victory of their own that was highlighted by a two-run home run from Franklin.

Other hits for Hickory came on singles from Branch (RBI, SB), Kaden Carpenter (run, SB), and Santana (SB), while reliever Jormy Nivar (2 2/3 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 5 K) earned the win on the mound as he improved to 6-0 on the season. In addition, JD McReynolds (IP, H, 3 K) picked up his fifth save.

SATURDAY, AUG. 8

Hickory 10, Augusta 1

Pablo Guerrero (two singles, four RBIs, run, SB), Yolfran Castillo (solo homer, single, two RBIs, two runs, SB), Deward Tovar (solo homer, single), and Santana (double, single, three runs, two SB) all had two hits for the Crawdads as their bats were able to heat up again.

Marco Argudin (single, two runs, SB), Daniel Flames (single, run), and Branch (single) added one hit apiece for Hickory, which also received strong pitching from Jacob Johnson (2 IP, H, 2 BB, 3 K), Moises Morales (5 IP, ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 K), and Frank Martinez (2 IP, 3 K). Morales was the second hurler used by the Crawdads, and he notched the win to move to 8-2 on the year.

SUNDAY, AUG. 9

Hickory 7, Augusta 2

The Crawdads totaled 11 hits for the second straight game as they broke a tie by scoring five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Hickory received two hits each from Guerrero (double, single, three RBIs, run), Carpenter (solo homer, single, two RBIs, two runs, SB), and Sebastian Baquera (double, single). Meanwhile, Luis Marquez (single, RBI, SB), Tovar (single, run, SB), Castillo (double, run), Curley Martha (single, run), and Jay McQueen (single) recorded one hit apiece.

Julius Sanchez (2-0) earned the win following two innings of scoreless, one-hit relief with three strikeouts and no walks.

TUESDAY, AUG. 11

Hickory 3, Kannapolis 1

A pitchers’ duel went the Crawdads’ way as the big blow came on a three-run homer from Argudin in the top of the second.

The only other hit for Hickory came on a fifth-inning single from Franklin, while McReynolds (6-2) notched the win thanks to 1 1/3 innings of scoreless, hitless relief during which he pitched around two walks. Michael Trausch (IP, BB, K) added his second save, Connor O’Hara (3 2/3 IP, 5 H, BB, 5 K) allowed an unearned run in the bottom of the first, and Louis Marinaro (1 2/3 IP, BB, 2 K) and Aneudis Mejia (1 1/3 IP, H, 3 K) were the other relievers to see time on the mound.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 12

Kannapolis 5, Hickory 4

The Crawdads scored three runs in their final at-bat, but their rally ultimately fell short.

Guerrero registered three singles to lead Hickory at the plate, with Tovar (single, two RBIs), Santana (double, run), Flames (single, run), Josh Springer (single, run), and Franklin (single) each tallying one hit.