Hickory Crawdads �10, �West Virginia Power �2 (box)
The Crawdads put a pinch on the Power, boosted by a 5-run 3rd inning and a total of 13 hits. �The Power recorded 8 hits but left too many on base, as they managed to push only 2 runs across the plate.
The Power had at least one runner on base in every inning but the 4th and the 8th. �They came close to scoring in the 5th. �DH Jose Hernandez was hit by a pitch, and C Pat Irvine singled, then a grounder by SS Elevys Gonzalez forced Irvine out at second. �CF Evan Chambers lined out to right field, and it became a double play when Hernandez tagged up to score but was thrown out at the plate.
2B Jarek Cunningham got the Power going in the 6th with a double. �He scored from second on a single by 3B Jesus Brito. �Hernandez gave the Power their second run with a lead-off homer in the 7th. �Two more runners reached base in that inning, with a single by Gonzalez and a walk to Chambers, but both were left on base. �Hernandez walked and Irvine singled again in the 9th, but again they were left on base.
Starter Brandon Holden was the victim of all the Crawdads’ snapping. �He retired the side in the 1st inning, but got into trouble in the 2nd, on two walks and a 3-run homer. �The Crawdads continued to take advantage of Holden in the 3rd, with a walk, two stolen bases, two singles, and a wild pitch, for two runs. �Then another home run brought in 2 more runs, and Holden was relieved by Mike Williams. But Williams gave up a double and a single, to give Hickory their 5th run of the inning.
The Crawdads were not done with the home runs. �In the 5th, Williams gave up a double and a 2-run homer. �Zach Foster pitched 2 innings in relief and loaded the bases with a double and two walks in the bottom of the 6th, but ended the inning with 2 strikeouts. �He also gave up a single in the 7th, but erased that runner with a double play. �Gabriel Alvarado pitched a scoreless 8th inning, with a single and a walk.
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