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 (2^nd 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 9^th doubles (6)

Pedro Gonzalez – Tied for 2^nd homers (5)

Sam Huff – 1^st home runs (8), 1^st total bases, 1^st slugging pct. (.750), 2^nd OPS (1.063), tied for 9^th runs, tied for 10^th strikeouts

Chris Seise – 2^nd caught stealing (4), tied for 10^th stolen bases (5)

Curtis Terry – 1^st RBI (21), tied for 2^nd homers (5), 3^rd total bases, tied for 3^rd doubles (8), 5^th slugging pct. (.600)

Matt Whatley – 5^th walks

Individual pitching:

Tim Brennan – 8^th WHIP (0.76)

Hans Crouse – 4^th WHIP (0.69), tied for 4^th hit batters (3), 10^th ERA (1.33), 10^th innings (20.1)

Scott Engler – Tied for 6^th saves (2)

Abdiel Mendoza – Tied for 6^th saves (2)

Team Batting:

Slash line (BA. OBP/ SLG/ OPS):.227 (19^th)/ .291 (11^th)/ .424 (2^nd)/ .715 (3^rd).

Other key rankings: 1^st home runs, 3^rd total bases, 4^th runs, 11^th hits, next to last walks,

Team Pitching:

1^st ERA (2.42), 1^st WHIP (1.02), fewest runs allowed, fewest earned runs allowed, fewest walks allowed, fewest hit batters, 4^th fewest hits allowed, 11^th 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 (1^st 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 3^rd hits, 6^th batting avg. (.343), 6^th on-base pct. (.425), tied for 8^th walks, 9^th OPS (.947), tied for 9^th doubles (6), tied for 10^th total bases

Carlos De La Cruz – Tied for 3^rd caught stealing

Jonathan Guzman – Tied for 10^th stolen bases (5)

Rafael Marchan – Tied for 9^th doubles (6)

Individual pitching:

Colton Eastman – Tied for 6^th earned runs allowed, tied for 8^th runs allowed

Ethan Evanko – Tied for 9^th appearances (7)

Kevin Gowdy – Tied for 2^nd walks allowed

Robinson Martinez – Tied for 6^th saves (2)

Tyler McKay – Tied for 10^th earned runs allowed, tied for 10^th runs allowed

Jhordany Mezquita – Tied for 6^th earned runs allowed, tied for 10^th runs allowed

Team batting:

Slash line (BA. OBP/ SLG/ OPS): .235 (6^th)/.306 (7^th)/ .313 (13^th)/ .318 (12^th)

Other key rankings: 1^st caught stealing, 2^nd steals, 3^rd hits, 4^th strikeouts, 11^th total bases, 12^th runs scored, 13^th home runs (5)

Team pitching:

Most hits allowed, most walks allowed, 2^nd most runs allowed, 2^nd most earned runs allowed, 13^th ERA (4.84), 13^th WHIP (1.49),