AP Sports Preview

Hickory at Salem

SALEM, Va. (Interstat) — The Hickory Crawdads visit the Salem RidgeYaks on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Carilion Clinic Field. The forecast calls for 79 degrees and cloudy skies.

Hickory (27-19) has won three of its last four games against Salem, including a 7-3 victory Thursday and a 4-3 win Friday. The Crawdads have taken a 3-1 lead in the current six-game series. Salem (21-27) has dropped four of its last five overall.

Hickory will send right-hander AJ Russell (1-0) to the mound. The Crawdads also list right-hander Leighton Finley (2-1) as a probable pitcher. Salem has not announced its starter.

Players to watch

Hickory right-hander Jesus Lafalaise held Salem to two earned runs over six innings in Thursday’s win, striking out two. Over his last five appearances, Lafalaise has allowed 20 earned runs in 18 innings with 17 strikeouts.

Salem first baseman Frederik Jimenez hit a home run and drove in two runs Thursday against Hickory. Jimenez has one hit in his last 13 at-bats but has three RBIs over his last two games.

Recent series

Hickory has won seven of 10 meetings against Salem this season, including three of four at home in April. The Crawdads have outscored Salem 47-31 in the series.

Notable

Hickory’s Marcos Torres hit a home run and drove in two runs Thursday. Hickory reliever Frank Martinez struck out four over three innings of one-run relief in that game. Salem reliever Nicolas De La Cruz allowed one earned run over 2 2/3 innings Thursday.

Up next

The teams conclude the series Sunday at Carilion Clinic Field. Hickory then returns home for a six-game series against Kannapolis starting Tuesday. Salem visits Wilson for six games starting Tuesday.

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AP projected score: Hickory 7, Salem 3.