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05/18/2008 8:33 PM ET
Lincoln Logs Win in 2008 Debut
By Mike Janela / Hickory Crawdads
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 Brad Lincoln earned the win in his first start since 2006. (John M. Setzler, Jr./File photo: 2006)
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Hickory's Brad Lincoln, making his first start of 2008 after missing all of 2007 recovering from Tommy John surgery, impressed in leading Hickory to its sixth straight win -- a 4-2 triumph over the Rome Braves at State Mutual Stadium in Rome.
Lincoln, who last pitched in the minors for Hickory in 2006, lasted five innings, allowing just one run on four hits, walking none and striking out three.
The No. 4 overall pick of the 2006 draft, Lincoln's four surrendered hits were all singles and the only run he allowed came on an RBI ground out.
Meanwhile, Hickory's offense got cooking early for its starter, scoring four runs by the fourth inning.
The Crawdads (22-22) scored all four runs without a single RBI hit: Erik Huber scored on an error in the second inning and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the third, Austin McClune scored on a passed ball in the third inning, and Matt Cavagnaro touched home on a 6-4-3 double play in the fourth.
Rome (13-29) scored its two runs on a Cody Johnson RBI ground out in the fourth and a Stephen Shults solo home run in the eighth, his first big fly of the season.
Hickory's bullpen continued to pitch outstandingly throughout the 'Dads' six-game roll, as Ronald Uviedo and Tom Boleska combined to allow just one run and three hits in four innings.
Lincoln improved to 1-0 with the victory, while Boleska finished the game for his third save of the year. Jeff Locke started and took the loss for Rome, dropping to 1-5 on the season after allowing four runs (three earned) in 3.2 innings.
The six-game winning streak elongated Hickory's already-season-high run and brought the Crawdads back to .500 for the first time since May 3 when they were 15-15.
McClune, Bobby Spain and Ronald Pena each had two hits in the game. Spain extended his active hitting streak to 10 straight, Hickory's best active mark.
The Crawdads search for their first series sweep of the season Monday night at 7.
Hickory will hand the ball to RHP Dustin Molleken (4-2, 4.70 ERA), who will take on Rome LHP Scott Diamond (3-0, 2.08).
Live coverage of the final game of Hickory's eight-game road trip begins on The Big Dawg WMNC 92.1 FM and www.hickorycrawdads.com at 6:40.
GAME NOTES:Game time was 3:02. Attendance was 3,145. ...It was the second straight game Hickory played that lasted 3:05. It marked the third time this year Hickory has played back-to-back games in exactly the same time (5/14, 5/15 @ Columbus: 2:51; 4/17, 4/18 vs. Lexington: 2:28). ...Hickory won despite no RBI hits, loading the bases on four separate occasions and stranding 13 runners. ...Erik Huber's lead-off triple in the second inning was his fourth of the season, tied for second-most in the league. ...Hickory improved to 3-5 on Sundays and 2-5 in day games in 2008.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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