‘Dads fall to ’Dogs
From staff reports

HICKORY — The Hickory Crawdads fell victim to the superb pitching and relentless hitting of Charleston (S.C.) for the second straight day, losing 8-1 to the RiverDogs at L.P. Frans Stadium Sunday.

The seven-run margin of defeat is the largest for the Crawdads (15-16) this season. Charleston (22-8) has outscored Hickory 16-3 through the first two games of the series.

Hickory faced an early deficit after starter Rafael De Los Santos allowed six runs (three earned) in the first three innings.

Brian Baisley led the charge for Charleston early, going 2-for-2 with a solo home run and an RBI double in the first three innings.

The RiverDogs would run their lead out to 8-0, thanks to a Jesus Montero two-run home run in the seventh before Hickory found home plate in the ninth.

After Erik Huber singled with two outs, Andrew Walker hit his sixth double of the season to score Huber and avoid what would have been Hickory's first shutout loss of the year.

As it stands, the Crawdads sit below .500 for just the third day of 2008 after the defeat.

Charleston starter Zach McAllister held Hickory’s bats in check with seven scoreless innings, the second straight night the Crawdads' potent offense was kept quiet.

McAllister improved to 4-1 on the year and dropped his ERA to a league-best 0.92 while striking out four.

De Los Santos dropped to 1-2 with the loss, lasting just three innings to match his shortest outing of the year.

Marcus Davis was the only Crawdad to muster multiple hits, finishing 2-4 on the day. Davis now had multi-hit games in four of his last six after notching only two multi-hit games in his first 21 contests.

Meanwhile, Miles Durham extended his hitting streak to 10 straight games with a seventh-inning single.

The teams resume their four-game series with game three Monday night at 6:30.

Hickory sends right-hander Brad Clapp to the mound for his second start of the season. Clapp allowed no earned runs in five innings in his first start Wednesday at Savannah.

He faces Charleston right-hander Dellin Betances, who is 3-1 with a 2.59 ERA.

Notes:
Game time was 2:28. Attendance was 1,401. ...Hickory is now 1-4 in day games this season.