Ortiz Blast Completes Comeback in 7-6 Win

Hickory, NC- The Crawdads rolled to their third straight victory on Wednesday night, coming from behind to defeat the Rome Braves 7-6.

Rome chased Josh Gessner out of the game in the first. He hit the first batter of the game, walked two and allowed a hit and three earned runs while recording two outs before getting lifted for Juan Mejia. Mejia needed just three pitches to get out of the inning.

They added on two more in the second to make it a 5-0 game.

The ‘Dads got on the board in the bottom of the third. Jayce Easley singled and advanced to third on a single by Ben Blackwell. Daniel Mateo hit a sacrifice fly to center, deep enough for Easley to tag up and score without a play.

The Crawdads added on a pair of runs in the fourth to make it 5-3. Abimelec Ortiz and Maximo Acosta singled to lead off the inning and each moved up as Geisel Cepeda grounded out. Jayce Easley doubled them in with a line drive to left.

Rome pushed their lead back to three with a run in the sixth.

The Crawdads fought back in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four. Easley singled advanced to second on a walk by Efrenyer Narvaez, who was picked off as both runners threatened to steal. Mateo singled to center, bringing in Easley for the first run of the inning. Wyatt Langford walked to put two runners on. Ortiz blasted his twentieth sixth homer of the season (number 20 since joining the ‘Dads) to put the Crawdads ahead 7-6.

Andy Rodriguez closed the door, tossing the last two innings without allowing a hit and recording his fourth save.

The Crawdads will take the field in their new alternate identity, the Hickory Dickory Docks, presented by Mountain Mitsubishi, tomorrow night. It will also be Thirsty Thursday, by Focus News, Peoples Bank Thursday, and Planet Fitness Thursday.