The word on the street is the Hickory Crawdads will feature a roster with highly touted prospects in the lineup this season.
But on opening night of the 2011 season, it was the pitching staff that showed it can’t be ignored.
A quartet of Crawdads pitchers combined to strike out 16 and made a four-run first inning stand up in a 4-2 win over the Asheville Tourists before 2,662 fans on Thursday night at L.P. Frans Stadium.
Game 2 of a four-game series is tonight at 7 p.m. at Frans.
“It’s nice to be 1-0, but I’m happy for these kids,” said Hickory manager Bill Richardson. “They’ve put a lot of work in and to show the poise that they showed was -- I don’t want to say surprising -- but I’m pleasantly pleased.”
Roman Mendez battled wildness in his four innings -- two walks, two hit batters and two wild pitches -- but struck out six and was able to hold the Tourists to only one run on three hits.
Three relief pitchers followed Mendez and held Asheville to nine hits, several of those seeing-eye ones through the infield.
Carlos Melo (1-0) struck out three in 1 2/3 innings, followed by Nick Tepesch, who struck out in three 1 1/3 innings. Ryan Rodebaugh closed the game with two innings in relief, striking out four to earn a save.
The 16 strikeouts fell one short of a club record for a nine-inning game, set in May 2009 by Martin Perez and Jake Brigham.
“I thought the way they went about (the hitters) was outstanding,” Richardson said. “They didn’t leave their fastball; it wasn’t like trick pitches or anything. They were throwing the ball down with good angles.
“To get the out the first time on the mound and to do what they did in mini-camp, it’s a good sign.”
Hickory took the lead when Jurickson Profar, the second Crawdads batter, greeted Tourists starter Edwar Carbrera with a homer to left.
After Josh Richmond was hit by a pitch, a single by Andrew Clark and a walk to Tomas Telis loaded the bases. Jake Skole scored all three with a double off the wall in right.
Cabrera (0-1) settled down after the first and struck out nine in five innings. Only four Hickory hitters reached base after the second inning.
“The first couple of innings we’re trying to get our feet wet and try to get accustomed to the competition at this level,” said Asheville manager Joe Mikulik. “Unfortunately, Cabrera struggled a little bit in the first inning, but he settled down and made some adjustments and did a pretty good job after that. I thought our bullpen pitched really well.”
Asheville got a run back in the second inning, as Bryce Massanari led off with a double down the line, then scored later in the inning on a wild pitch by Mendez.
The Tourists scored their other run in the sixth inning when Tyler Massey singled in Corey Dickerson.
Asheville let other chances get away, going 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement