Lakewood BlueClaws (Philadelphia Phillies) (6-14, seventh place, South Atlantic League Northern Division)
Hickory Crawdads (Texas Rangers) (14-5, second place, South Atlantic League Northern Division)
The Hickory Crawdads continue their weeklong homestand with a four-game series against the Lakewood BlueClaws from Thursday through Sunday.
IF YOU PLAN TO GO:
WHERE IS IT?: 2500 Clement Blvd., 1 mile west of U.S. Hwy 321, near entrance to Hickory Airport.
GAME TIMES/ PROMOTIONS:
Thursday: Lakewood at Hickory, 7:00 p.m. Thirsty Thursday, Salute to Scrubs Week (Healthcare professionals receive a free ticket with a current ID badge), NFL Draft Party
Friday: Lakewood at Hickory, 7:00 p.m. Salute to Scrubs Week (Healthcare professionals receive a free ticket with a current ID badge)
Saturday: Lakewood at Hickory, 5:00 p.m. Sanctus Real Post-Game Concert
Sunday: Church Bulletin Sunday (Bring a church bulletin to the ticket office and receive a $6 ticket with $4 from each ticket donated back to the respective church), Red Out Night (Wear red and receive a free ticket to the game), Bark at the Park.
TICKETS: $9 tickets in advance, $10 at the gate. Children (12 and under) and seniors $8, $15 for VIP section. NOTE: Tickets for Saturday’s game and concert are $16, $21 for VIP seating.
PARKING: All parking is $3.
RECENT SERIES HISTORY:
The Crawdads took three of four from Lakewood in New Jersey to open the 2019 season. The BlueClaws dominated the South Atlantic League a year ago and they did not spare Hickory from their wrath. Lakewood won 7 of 10, which included a 3-1 mark at LP Frans last August. Since 2009, when the Crawdads-Rangers affiliation began, Lakewood is 17-16 at Hickory, 55-50 overall.
PROBABLES (Lakewood/ Hickory)
Thursday: RHP Colton Eastman vs. RHP Ronny Henriquez
Friday: RHP Tyler McKay vs. RHP Jean Casanova
Saturday: LHP Jhordany Mezquita vs. LHP John King
Sunday: RHP Francisco Morales vs. RHP Tim Brennan
ABOUT HICKORY
The Crawdads enter the series on the heels of two straight wins over Augusta (Ga.) to claim a 2-1 series win. Hickory is 6-3 at home this season.
Manager: Matt Hagen (2nd season)
Prospects – (team rankings are by MLB.com):
RHP Hans Crouse No.1 (No. 80 in top-100)
SS Chris Seise No. 12
IF Jonathan Ornelas No. 18
C Sam Huff No. 21
3B Sherten Apostel No. 22
RHP Ronny Henriquez No. 20
Possible lineups: C: Matt Whatley or Sam Huff; 1B Curtis Terry; 2B Frainyer Chavez or Jonathan Ornelas; 3B Sherten Apostel; SS Chris Seise; OF LF: Miguel Aparicio or Chad Smith; CF: Pedro Gonzalez; RF: Jose Almonte.
SAL Rankings:
Individual Batting:
Jose Almonte – Tied for 9th doubles (6)
Pedro Gonzalez – Tied for 2nd homers (5)
Sam Huff – 1st home runs (8), 1st total bases, 1st slugging pct. (.750), 2nd OPS (1.063), tied for 9th runs, tied for 10th strikeouts
Chris Seise – 2nd caught stealing (4), tied for 10th stolen bases (5)
Curtis Terry – 1st RBI (21), tied for 2nd homers (5), 3rd total bases, tied for 3rd doubles (8), 5th slugging pct. (.600)
Matt Whatley – 5th walks
Individual pitching:
Tim Brennan – 8th WHIP (0.76)
Hans Crouse – 4th WHIP (0.69), tied for 4th hit batters (3), 10th ERA (1.33), 10th innings (20.1)
Scott Engler – Tied for 6th saves (2)
Abdiel Mendoza – Tied for 6th saves (2)
Team Batting:
Slash line (BA. OBP/ SLG/ OPS):.227 (19th)/ .291 (11th)/ .424 (2nd)/ .715 (3rd).
Other key rankings: 1st home runs, 3rd total bases, 4th runs, 11th hits, next to last walks,
Team Pitching:
1st ERA (2.42), 1st WHIP (1.02), fewest runs allowed, fewest earned runs allowed, fewest walks allowed, fewest hit batters, 4th fewest hits allowed, 11th home runs allowed (8),
ABOUT LAKEWOOD:
Though the lost the finale of a three-game series at Rome, Ga., the BlueClaws won two of three against the Braves coming off a 1-10 stretch. The two wins at Rome snapped an 0-8 start on the road.
Manager: Mike Micucci (1st season)
Prospects – Lakewood (rankings by MLB.com):
3B Alex Bohm No. 1 (No. 56 in top-100, No. 6 3B)
SS Luis Garcia No. 4
RHP Francisco Morales No. 8
C Rafael Marchan No. 14
RHP Dominic Pipkins No. 23
LHP Jhordany Mezquita No. 26
Possible Lineups: C: Rafael Marchan or Abraham Gutierrez; 1B: Matt Kroon; 2B: Luis Garcia or Jonathan Guzman; 3B: Alec Bohm; SS: Jonathan Guzman or Luis Garcia; LF: varied; CF: Yerwin Trejo or Malvin Matos; RF: Carlos De La Cruz or Malvin Matos.
SAL Rankings:
Individual Batting:
Alex Bohm – Tied for 3rd hits, 6th batting avg. (.343), 6th on-base pct. (.425), tied for 8th walks, 9th OPS (.947), tied for 9th doubles (6), tied for 10th total bases
Carlos De La Cruz – Tied for 3rd caught stealing
Jonathan Guzman – Tied for 10th stolen bases (5)
Rafael Marchan – Tied for 9th doubles (6)
Individual pitching:
Colton Eastman – Tied for 6th earned runs allowed, tied for 8th runs allowed
Ethan Evanko – Tied for 9th appearances (7)
Kevin Gowdy – Tied for 2nd walks allowed
Robinson Martinez – Tied for 6th saves (2)
Tyler McKay – Tied for 10th earned runs allowed, tied for 10th runs allowed
Jhordany Mezquita – Tied for 6th earned runs allowed, tied for 10th runs allowed
Team batting:
Slash line (BA. OBP/ SLG/ OPS): .235 (6th)/.306 (7th)/ .313 (13th)/ .318 (12th)
Other key rankings: 1st caught stealing, 2nd steals, 3rd hits, 4th strikeouts, 11th total bases, 12th runs scored, 13th home runs (5)
Team pitching:
Most hits allowed, most walks allowed, 2nd most runs allowed, 2nd most earned runs allowed, 13th ERA (4.84), 13th WHIP (1.49),
