The Lynchburg Hillcats gave up three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but held on to beat the Carolina Mudcats 9-8 tonight. Will Skinner led the offense with a home run and a double. He drove in three and scored three times. The game-winning RBI belonged to Ross Heffley, who singled in Skinner in the top of the ninth to give the Hillcats their ninth and final run of the game.
The game started a minute early at 6:14, but seven pitches in stopped for a 33-minute rain delay. Play froze with a runner second base, one out, and William Beckwith at the plate with a 3-1 count. When play resumed, Beckwith struck out. Then, Robby Hefflinger doubled off the left field wall to plate Emerson Landoni from second base.
The Mudcats responded quickly with four runs in the bottom of the first. They batted all nine off Hillcats starter Jarett Miller. The five-hit, four-run frame was highlighted by a two-run double for Charlie Valerio. It also included a triple for Tyler Naquin and a double for Jordan Smith. Miller finished the first inning, but did not return for the second.
Ronan Pacheco entered from the bullpen for the Hillcats. He threw a season-long four innings. He gave up one run in the third inning, but that was all while allowing just two hits, walking two, and striking out a season-high five.
The Hillcats trailed 5-1 going to the fourth but tied it up with a four-run rally. Skinner hit his fifth home run of the season, third of May, and second in as many nights in Zebulon. The two-run shot highlighted the game-tying rally,
Things stayed even until the eighth inning. Owen Dew came on in relief for the Mudcats. He walked his first batter, Skinner. Heffley then put down a sacrifice bunt moving Skinner to second. Elmer Reyes singled home Skinner to put the Hillcats ahead for the first time since the top of the first. Reyes then scored on a hit and run single to left center field off the bat of Luis De La Cruz.
Lynchburg added two more runs, which proved to be helpful, in the ninth inning. Skinner delivered an RBI-double and Heffley singled in Skinner. Lynchburg led 9-5 going to the bottom of the ninth inning.
Nate Hyatt, owner of a 0.69 ERA entering the night and a consecutive scoreless inning streak up to 13 frames, came back out on the mound after getting the final two outs of the eighth inning. Hyatt loaded the bases with nobody out, walking two around a single. The tying run came to the plate. Valerio hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, making it 9-6. Runners were at first and third for Luigi Rodriguez. A wild pitch brought home another run and Rodriguez eventually walked.. John Cornely was then called upon to relieve Hyatt with one out and the game-winning run at first base. Cornely’s first pitch was hit into right field for an RBI-single from Joe Sever. Zach MacPhee then grounded out to first base. Beckwith made a diving stop and got his only out at first while the tying run went to third and game-winner advanced into scoring position. Aaron Siliga was up next and struck out swinging to end the game.
Cornely logged his first save of the season. Matt Chaffee (2-2) earned his first win. He tossed the seventh and got the first out of the eighth without allowing a run.
The Hillcats are now 18-15, while the Mudcats fell to 13-22.
Game three of the series is set for 2pm tomorrow afternoon. RHP Greg Ross (0-0, 0.00) will make his second start for Lynchburg against LHP Shawn Morimando (1-4, 3.30) for Carolina. Listen to the call with Erik Wilson starting with the Hillcats On-Deck Show powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg starting at 1:40pm on 97.9 FM The Planet and online atlynchburg-hillcats.com
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