It's a simple game: You throw the ball....
... you catch the ball.
Not much to add to Thursday night's 6-4 loss that wasn't in the boxscore. Once again, the Crawdads pitch well enough to win but 3 unearned runs doom the Hickory nine.
Hickory has now allowed 27 unearned runs this season in 21 games, second most in the South Atlantic League. For perspective, the pitching staff has allowed 42 EARNED RUNS. At the other end of the spectrum, Kannapolis has allowed ten unearned run (13-8 record, good for 1st in the North), Lexington has allowed nine (13-8, first place in the SAL South), Delmarva has allowed seven (11-7, 1/2 game out of first in the North).
Key play of the game came in the top of the fourth inning. Score tied at one-all, Lakewood's James Murphy led off with a line double off the wal in right. One out later, DH Sebastian Valle hit a 95 hopper into left field, forcing Murphy to hold at second. Eric Fry came up in an attempt to catch Murphy going to third . However, the throw to West was high. Unfortunately, no one hustled to back up the play, allowing the ball to roll around to the first base side of home plate. Murphy scores and Valle circles all the way to third. One out later, a bloop single to right scores Valle.
Two more unearned runs scored in the sixth, but a tiring Bleier hurt his own cause as well. After a line drive to short to open the inning, Bleier hits Murphy on an 0-2 pitch to start the rally. After a line single to left by Travis Mattair, Bleier had an opportunity to escape damage after David Paisano made a diving play on a liner by Valle. However, a sharp grounder by Zach Collier went off the glove of firstbaseman Clark Murphy which led to both runners scoring.
I do wonder at some point whether or not the pitching will begin to press. The poor defensive play, coupled with at times a dry offensive performance has to be frustrating at times.
The Hickory offense, as they did on Tuesday, hit into tough luck against Lakewood ace Jon Velasquez (5-0 2.25) Four of the 16 outs were line drives at outfielders, a fifth, a hot shot at the third baseman, and a sixth out came courtesy of a diving stop by the Blue Claws' centerfielder.
Typical of the night, in the sixth inning with the 5-3 Lakewood, Hickory had a pair of runners on. Doug Hogan mashed a ball to left that appeared to have homerun distance, but the ball died at the track.
And so the HR-less streak for all but Bianucci is at 2 full weeks.
Matt West, apparently with a new batting stance courtesy of visiting co-ordinator Scott Servais, had four solid base hits-- two to left, two to right.
Back at it tonight......
-Mark P.
Not much to add to Thursday night's 6-4 loss that wasn't in the boxscore. Once again, the Crawdads pitch well enough to win but 3 unearned runs doom the Hickory nine.
Hickory has now allowed 27 unearned runs this season in 21 games, second most in the South Atlantic League. For perspective, the pitching staff has allowed 42 EARNED RUNS. At the other end of the spectrum, Kannapolis has allowed ten unearned run (13-8 record, good for 1st in the North), Lexington has allowed nine (13-8, first place in the SAL South), Delmarva has allowed seven (11-7, 1/2 game out of first in the North).
Key play of the game came in the top of the fourth inning. Score tied at one-all, Lakewood's James Murphy led off with a line double off the wal in right. One out later, DH Sebastian Valle hit a 95 hopper into left field, forcing Murphy to hold at second. Eric Fry came up in an attempt to catch Murphy going to third . However, the throw to West was high. Unfortunately, no one hustled to back up the play, allowing the ball to roll around to the first base side of home plate. Murphy scores and Valle circles all the way to third. One out later, a bloop single to right scores Valle.
Two more unearned runs scored in the sixth, but a tiring Bleier hurt his own cause as well. After a line drive to short to open the inning, Bleier hits Murphy on an 0-2 pitch to start the rally. After a line single to left by Travis Mattair, Bleier had an opportunity to escape damage after David Paisano made a diving play on a liner by Valle. However, a sharp grounder by Zach Collier went off the glove of firstbaseman Clark Murphy which led to both runners scoring.
I do wonder at some point whether or not the pitching will begin to press. The poor defensive play, coupled with at times a dry offensive performance has to be frustrating at times.
The Hickory offense, as they did on Tuesday, hit into tough luck against Lakewood ace Jon Velasquez (5-0 2.25) Four of the 16 outs were line drives at outfielders, a fifth, a hot shot at the third baseman, and a sixth out came courtesy of a diving stop by the Blue Claws' centerfielder.
Typical of the night, in the sixth inning with the 5-3 Lakewood, Hickory had a pair of runners on. Doug Hogan mashed a ball to left that appeared to have homerun distance, but the ball died at the track.
And so the HR-less streak for all but Bianucci is at 2 full weeks.
Matt West, apparently with a new batting stance courtesy of visiting co-ordinator Scott Servais, had four solid base hits-- two to left, two to right.
Back at it tonight......
-Mark P.
