The Lynchburg Hillcats were swept at home for the first time this season in their 5-4 loss versus the Keys. It was a teeter-totter battle that saw Lynchburg jump out to the early lead, but bullpen woes continued with two late runs leading to the loss. The big highlight for the ‘Cats was Mycal Jones hitting his first homer in 241 at-bats.
The series finale between the ‘Cats and the Keys was back-and-forth all night in the Hill City.
Much like last night, Lynchburg got off on the right foot. Mycal Jones took the first pitch he saw over the wall off Devin Jones for his second homer of the season and his first in 241 at-bats. The solo shot gave the ‘Cats the early 1-0 lead.
The score would remain 1-0 until the top of the third. Singles by Trent Mummey and Tyler Townsend gave Jeremy Nowak an opportunity to produce. However, it would be a weak ground ball by Nowak that would cause trouble. Nowak hit a grounder to third where Edward Salcedo got the lead runner at second, but on the turn, Emerson Landoni threw the ball away and Mummey hustled home to tie it at 1-1. The run would was unearned and would not be charged to pitcher Dimasther Delgado.
Lynchburg answered back in the bottom of the third with a run of their own. It would be Chris Garcia that came through with the clutch hit with two outs in the inning. A double to deep left field allowed Dan Brewer to trot home from second to tie the game at two apiece.
One inning later the Keys would tie it up again thanks to Allan de San Miguel’s first homer of the season. The solo shot was blasted over the left field wall.
The seesawing continued in the bottom of the fifth when the ‘Cats put one on the board. Nick Ahmed’s league-leading 32nd double got the offense going and Brewer finished the job with an RBI-single to right. For the third time in the game the Hillcats took the lead, it was 3-2.
The top of the sixth saw more run production. Mike Flacco and de San Miguel came through with back-to-back single, that latter of which moved Flacco to third. Travis Adair hit a soft tapper to Landoni at second, which allowed Flacco to score on the ground out. The score was tied at 3-3.
The score would stay the same until the top of the eighth. Ryne Harper entered the game and immediately gave up two singles, a sac bunt and a double that led to two runs and a 5-3 lead for Frederick.
David Walters came in the eighth to shut down the ‘Cats, but it wasn’t that simple. The ninth got interesting after two outs thanks to Landoni’s swinging-bunt single. Jones came up with a big RBI-double to cut the lead to 5-4. However, Ahmed couldn’t come up with the big hit and the ‘Cats would get swept at home for the first time this season. The sweep was the first of any kind for the Keys this season.
Devin Jones picked up his third win of the season for his seven innings of work. He allowed eight hits that led to three runs while striking out and walking a pair. Harper is now 1-1 on the season after his two-run inning saddled him with the loss. He allowed three hits and fanned one. Walters picked up his 10th save of the season for his one and two-thirds inning of work.
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Chris Graham
