The Hickory Crawdads wiped out a two-run deficit over the final three innings on Sunday night to beat Greenville 7-4 in Greenville, S.C., in South Atlantic League baseball.
Down 4-2 through six innings, Hickory (6-5) got the lead with a three-run seventh inning and then added two more runs in the eighth inning.
The Drive (7-4) loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth inning, but reliever Joe Van Meter picked up his fourth save by getting Drew Hedman on an infield pop up for the final out.
Hickory scored three runs in the eighth off reliever Tyler Lockwood, who took the loss. Jonathan Roof doubled, Jurickson Profar singled and Odubel Herrera doubled in a run to make it 4-3.
Tomas Telis’ single drove in a run for a 4-all tie and Hickory went ahead 5-4 on a run-scoring sacrifice fly by Christian Villanueva.
Greenville reliever Garrett Rau was touched for two more runs in the eighth. After Josh Richmond walked and Jake Skole singled, Yefry Castillo’s sacrifice bunt scored a run. Skole later scored on a wild pitch.
Hererra went 3-for-5 and drove his 34th and 35th runs of the season for Hickory, which had 15 hits and six players with two or more. Telis was also 3-for-5.
Greenville got three hits each from Sean Coyle and Michael Almanzar and Xander Bogarets hit a solo home run in the fourth inning.
Colby Killian got the win for Hickory in relief after throwing two scoreless innings.
Hickory returns home to open a six-game homestand on Monday night with a game against Delmarva (Md.). After three games with the Shorebirds, the next three-game series is against Lexington (Ky.).
DELMARVA (Md.) SHOREBIRDS at HICKORY CRAWDADS
AFFILIATIONS: Delmarva (Md.) (Baltimore Orioles); Hickory (Texas Rangers).
SERIES SCHEDULE/PROMOTIONS: Monday, 7 p.m., Fourth of July Fireworks; Tuesday, 7 p.m., Dollar Day, Bring a Banner Night; Wednesday, 7 p.m., Guarantee Winsdays, Unemployment Night, Salute to the Mustache.
SITE: All games are at L.P. Frans Stadium, Clement Blvd NW, 1 mile west of U.S. Hwy 321.
ON THE RADIO: WMNC 92.1 FM and hickorycrawdads.com.
CRAWDADS PROBABLE PITCHERS (Delmarva starters listed first): Monday: Jarret Martin (4-3, 4.47 ERA) and Nick Tepesch (3-3, 3.30); Tuesday: Luis Noel (5-8, 5.62) and Luke Jackson (3-1, 3.74); Wednesday: Timothy Berry (1-5, 4.77) and Matt Thompson (3-4, 3.88).
ABOUT THE SHOREBIRDS: Delmarva was within three games of the Hagerstown (Md.) in the first-half Northern Division race as late as June 6 before a six-game losing streak, including two losses at home to the Suns, grounded the Shorebirds hopes. … Delmarva did give Hickory a boost in its run to the first-half title by splitting four games at Kannapolis, then defeating Hagerstown in the resumption of a suspended game to damage to the Suns’ chances. … The Shorebirds will begin the series after a red-eye bus trip from Salisbury, Md. … The pitching staff is among the top three in the South Atlantic League in runs and hits allowed. … Closer David Walters leads the SAL with 19 saves.
ABOUT THE CRAWDADS: Hickory entered Sunday night’s game at Greenville, S.C., with a three-game losing streak to fall to 5-5 in the second half. … The bullpen, which had been solid over the past few weeks, surrendered leads in all three games. Closer Ryan Rodebaugh blew a save in Saturday’s game, allowing an unearned run in the ninth. It was his first blown after converting 12 straight opportunities. … Tepesch threw the team’s first complete game in his last start at Kannapolis on Wednesday. He’s allowed only nine earned runs in his last six starts covering 36 1/3 innings, while striking out 37. … Tomas Telis was 9-for-19 (.474) with six RBI in four-game series at Delmarva four weeks ago.
RECENT HISTORY: Hickory and Delmarva split a four-game series at Delmarva earlier this season. … The Crawdads went 10-6 against the Shorebirds in 2010, including 8-4 at home.
CRAWDADS’ NEXT HOME SERIES: Thursday through Sunday vs. Lakewood, N.J.
-- MARK PARKER
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