For the first time this season, the Lynchburg Hillcats were swept in a doubleheader, losing the first game to the Wilmington Blue Rocks, 4-1, and dropping the second contest, 6-5.
Lynchburg (26-28) falls to 1-5 this season against Wilmington (26-33).
Game One
Tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the sixth, the Blue Rocks scored three runs to pull away for the 4-1 win. Khalil Lee led off the inning with a double, and Kort Peterson hit a two-run home run, his seventh of the season, to give Wilmington a two run lead. Later in the inning, Oliver Nunez hit an RBI single to give the ‘Rocks some insurance, capping the scoring.
Wilmington scored the first run of the game in the first inning. Lee singled and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch.
Lynchburg would plate their only run in the second inning, when Logan Ice delivered an RBI single.
Sam Hentges (Loss, 3-5) allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits in 5.1 innings. He walked four and struck out four.
Blue Rocks starter Daniel Tillo allowed one run on four hits in five innings. Vance Tatum (Win, 2-2) pitched a scoreless sixth inning and Julio Pinto (Save, 1) retired the side in order in the ninth.
Game Two
Tied 5-5 going into the bottom of the sixth, the Blue Rocks scored the go-ahead and winning run when Gabriel Cancel hit an RBI single to score Vance Vizcaino for the 6-5 win. Earlier in the frame, Vizcaino reached on an infield hit and moved to second base on a balk, paving the way for him to score on Cancel’s single.
Lynchburg started the scoring in the first inning. Mitch Longo led off the game with a walk, stole second base and scored after Li-Jen Chu hit an RBI single to right field.
The Blue Rocks quickly tied the game at 1-1 when Cancel singled and later scored on a Kort Peterson RBI single.
Wilmington would take the lead in the second inning. Vizcaino singled and crossed home when Angelo Castellano grooved an RBI double. Castellano stole third base, and the ensuing throw went into the dugout, awarding him to take an extra base and score, giving the ‘Rocks a 3-1 advantage.
The see-saw game continued when the Hillcats took the lead in the third inning. Conner Capel led off the frame with a double, and scored when Trenton Brooks connected with an RBI single. After Luke Wakamatsu singled, Emmanuel Tapia crushed a two-run triple to plate both Brooks and Wakamatsu, stretching Lynchburg’s lead to 4-3.
It became a 5-3 cushion in the fourth inning, when Chu hit a sacrifice fly.
Wilmington evened the score in the fifth with a two out rally. Felix Tati loaded the bases with two outs when Cancel singled, and Khalil Lee and Peterson walked to chase Tati from the game. The Hillcats summoned Jared Robinson (Loss, 1-1) out of the bullpen, and he allowed a two-run single to Meibrys Viloria that tied the game.
Tati allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits in 4.2 innings, striking out a season-high eight. Robinson gave up the game-tying single and winning run.
Jace Vines started the second game of the twin bill for Wilmington, and he allowed five earned runs on 10 hits in 3.1 innings. Cristian Castillo (Win, 2-5) pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in relief and Bryan Brickhouse (Save, 10) pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
Despite the loss, Lynchburg out-hit Wilmington in the second game, 11-7.
The series concludes on Thursday when the Hillcats will look to avoid the four-game sweep against the Blue Rocks. Left-hander Tanner Tully (2-5, 5.13) will start for Lynchburg, opposite of Wilmington right-hander Anthony Bender (2-2, 5.55). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Frawley Stadium.
Max Gun will be on the air at 6:25 p.m. with the Hillcats pre-game show on TuneIn Radio and the Radio434 App.
For tickets and more information visit Lynchburg-hillcats.com, the City Stadium Box Office, or call 434-528-1144.
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