Krum's blast lifts R'Dogs

RiverDogs 5, Crawdads 4

Hickory, N.C. — Austin Krum hit his first homer of the season, a three-run shot in the sixth inning, leading the Charleston RiverDogs to a 5-4 South Atlantic League win over the Hickory Crawdads at L.P. Frans Stadium on Monday.

With their eighth straight road victory, the RiverDogs improved to 23-8 on the season, while Hickory has lost its last four overall to fall to 15-17.

Dellin Betances (4-1) tied Zach McAllister for the team lead in wins despite struggling with his control. He walked seven and hit a batter in 5 2/3 innings and was charged with three runs. The right-hander issued three consecutive walks to start the bottom of the first, and the Crawdads took a 1-0 lead on Andrew Walker's sacrifice fly.

Run-scoring hits by Abraham Almonte and Jesus Montero in the third put Charleston ahead 2-1 against Crawdads starter Brad Clapp (0-2). Almonte paced the RiverDogs with three of their 11 hits.

Krum's two-out homer off Harrison Bishop in the sixth came with Brandon Laird and Brian Baisley aboard for a 5-1 lead.

Further wildness by Betances in the bottom half allowed Hickory to pull within two at 5-3. After a single, a hit batsman and a walk loaded the bases, Tom Hagan drove in a run with a groundout. Wilkins de la Rosa replaced Betances and forced in a run with a walk.

Jonathan Ortiz recorded his league-leading ninth save despite allowing a run in the ninth on a pair of two-out bloop hits. Charleston third baseman Laird robbed Miles Durham of a game-tying hit as he made a backhand grab of a hard grounder and a long, accurate throw to first for the final out.

The fourth and final game of the series is today at noon, with right-hander Lance Pendleton (1-2, 5.40 ERA) scheduled to pitch for Charleston against Hickory lefthander Zac Oliver (0-0, 6.00) .