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Hickory wins big to hurt Tourists' playoff chances
Published: Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 11:10 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 11:10 p.m.
ASHEVILLE — Asheville's drive for a second-half South Atlantic League Southern Division title hit a major speed bump Wednesday night.
Hickory exploded for 16 hits and roared past the homestanding Tourists 10-3 at McCormick Field. First-place Greenville routed Charleston, 7-2, to move 1½ games in front of Asheville with five to play. The Drive's magic number is four — any combination of Tourists losses or Greenville wins totalling four will give the second-half crown to the Drive.
The Tourists were coming off a dramatic doubleheader sweep on Tuesday night as Asheville won both games in their final at-bat. There was no such drama on Wednesday. Hickory scored four runs in the third inning and three runs in the fourth to race to a 7-0 lead. Four infield hits and a costly error helped the visitors seize control of the game.
Asheville was handcuffed by Hickory starter Jake Brigham (5-5). The right-hander allowed just five hits and kept the home team at bay. Nolan Arenado got the Tourists on the scoreboard with a long two-run homer. It was his 12th of the season and second in two nights.
Hickory jumped in front with four runs in the third inning thanks to some two-out lighting. The Crawdads got a run-scoring double from Jared Bolden for a 1-0 lead. Travis Adair followed with a run-scoring single. Jared Prince's double plated another run for a 3-0 margin. The final run was a tough one for Asheville to watch as Yefry Castillo hit a ball that looke as if it would go foul down the third-base line. Instead the ball stopped on the chalk, scoring the final run of the inning for a 4-0 lead.
Asheville starter Nick Schaitmann (8-10) had a tough night, allowing eight hits, seven runs, five earned, with three walks and no strikeouts.
What made the third inning tough for the right-hander is how he almost escaped a major Crawdad threat to start the frame. The visitors put runners on first and third before Schmaitmann picked off Guillermo Pimentel from first. Leadoff hitter Jonathan Roof then hit a ground ball to short, and Joey Wong made a perfect throw to the plate to get Edwin Garcia for the second out of the inning.
But the next six Hickory hitters reached base to give the Crawdads the 4-0 lead. They added three in the fourth to put the game away, 7-0.
Every hitter in the Hickory lineup had at least one hit by the fourth inning. Guillermo Pimenthal hit a solo homer in the fifth for an 8-0 margin.
The victory was a big one for the Crawdads as they clinched a wild-card spot in the playoffs in the North Division. They'll play Lakewood, who won both the first and second half of the division.
Prior to the game, the South Atlantic League announced that first baseman Jared Clark and outfielder Eliezer Mesa made the All-Star team.
Asheville will play its final regular-season home game at McCormick Field at 7:05 p.m. tonight against Hickory.
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