Hickory Crawdads Stun Salem Red Sox with 6-5 Walk-Off Win

The Hickory Crawdads mounted a thrilling comeback in the bottom of the 9th, erasing a 5-4 deficit to defeat the Salem Red Sox 6-5. Chandler Pollard ignited the rally with a leadoff double, followed by a 4-pitch walk to Erick Alvarez. The Crawdads made a strategic move, substituting Jose De Jesus for Alvarez. Antonis Macias laid down a 0-1 sacrifice bunt, advancing both runners. Rafe Perich then delivered a clutch hit, driving in Pollard to tie the game at 5-5 and moving De Jesus to third. Before the first pitch to Maxton Martin, a balk by the Red Sox allowed De Jesus to score the winning run, sealing the dramatic victory.

Macias and Pollard Power the Offense

Antonis Macias led the way, going 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs, while Chandler Pollard went 2-for-4, scoring 2 runs. Together, they accounted for 4 of Hickory’s 5 hits, providing the offensive spark needed for the comeback.

Mejia Shines in Relief

Reliever Aneudis Mejia (W, 1-1) (BS, 1) earned the win, pitching 5 innings, allowing 1 hit, 2 unearned runs, 2 walks, and striking out 7. His resilience on the mound kept the Crawdads in position to stage their late-game heroics.

Game 6 Showdown

Riding a three-game winning streak, the Hickory Crawdads aim for their fourth consecutive victory and a 4-2 series win over the Salem Red Sox in Game 6 of this 6-game series. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM tomorrow, as Hickory looks to close out the series in style.