Catfish open home stand with win

The best answer for a case of the Mondays is ending the Monday on a good note. And the Columbus Catfish did just that tonight, beating the Hickory Crawdads (Pirates) 6-4.

The Catfish put a pair of runs across the plate in the 1st inning. With 1 out, SS Shawn O'Malley singled, his 7th game game with the Catfish, and his 7th game with a hit. O'Malley stole second. RF Maiko Loyola walked, then both runners moved up on a wild pitch. 3B Greg Sexton grounded out to third, driving in O'Malley. Another wild pitch allowed Loyola to score.

Hickory tied it in the 2nd on a 2-run homer by Marcus Davis.

The Catfish regained the lead in the 4th on a 2-run homer by Sexton that cleared the Domino's Pizza sign in left.

Another run in the 7th extended the lead to 5-2. Loyola singled to right, driving in 2B Omar Luna, who had reached on a fielder's choice.

Hickory gave the Catfish a scare in the 8th, putting 2 runs up before Loyola cut the rally short with a diving grab in right for the 3rd out.

Back to back doubles by LF Reid Fronk and C Mike McCormick gave the Catfish a 2-run lead, 6-4.

Hickory threatened in the 9th, loading the bases with 2 outs, but P Kevin Boggan coaxed a ground ball out of Erik Huber, which Sexton fielded and stepped on third to end the game.

Alex Cobb went 5 innings, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits, striking out 5, to become the 1st South Atlantic League pitcher to win 6 games this season. Lake County's Ryan Miller also won his 6th game tonight. Justin Garcia pitched 2-2/3 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, striking out 6. Boggan finished the game, picking up his 3rd save.

Fronk went 3-for-4 and scored a run. Loyola was 2-for-3 with an RBI and 2 runs scored. Sexton had 3 RBIs.

The win is the 3rd in a row for the Catfish. Game 2 of the series is tomorrow night.