Wilmington tops Lynchburg, 7-5

The Hillcats fell down 4-0 early, but battled to take the lead on a Braeden Schlehuber three run bomb. However, the bullpen couldn’t hold off the Blue Rocks offense late. An emotional game led to two Blue Rocks coaches being ejected, but the Rocks came away with 7-5 win.

Greg Billo got off to a hot start to his day on the mound for the Blue Rocks by striking out three of the first four batters he faced. His offense was able to thank him with two runs in the top of the second.  Read more

Lynchburg slides by Blue Rocks

The Hillcats added another game to their division lead in what has become more than just a coincidence. Their 1-0 victory over Wilmington was the third time this season that they have a shutout win by the way of a solo blast. It was Robby Hefflinger’s turn to give Gus Schlosser the one run he needed to pick up his fourth win of the season.

The runs were even more scarce than the opportunities thanks to two great pitching performances by the ‘Cats and Rocks staffs. The starters Gus Schlosser and Santiago Garrido were exceptional in the battle. The sole mistake was made by Garrido in the top of the fifth on a 1-0 fastball. Robby Hefflinger blasted the pitch to nearly straightaway center field. The homer was Hefflinger’s third of the season and first in nearly 100 at-bats. Read more

Longball pushes Lynchburg to W

It was a slugfest in Lynchburg with each team sending a pair of bombs over the fence. The Hillcats were able to walk away victorious thanks to Tommy La Stella’s sixth inning homer.

Rain was looming throughout the evening, but the Hillcats and Wilmington Blue Rocks were able to squeeze in a game at Lynchburg City Stadium. Read more

Rocks snap skid against Lynchburg

The Hillcats had their four-game winning streak snapped in a 7-2 loss to the Wilmington Blue Rocks tonight. RHP Gus Schlosser gave up four runs, but only two were earned, in seven innings. He took his second consecutive loss as the Hillcats wrapped up a three-game series in Wilmington which they won 2-1.

An error in the bottom of the first inning allowed the Blue Rocks to take the early lead. With two outs and nobody on base, Cheslor Cuthbert hit a ground ball to shortstop Nick Ahmed. Ahmed rushed his throw to first and let it fly wide into the baseline. Cuthbert advanced to second on the wild throw, and then to third base on a wild pitch. Clean-up batter Brian Fletcher then singled to drive in Cuthbert. Wilmington led 1-0. Read more

Martin loses no-no, but Hillcats hold on for 1-0 win

Through six innings tonight, RHP Cody Martin held the Wilmington Blue Rocks without a single hit. It wasn’t until the the seventh that Angel Franco broke up the no-no with a weak liner into left field. Martin finished seven scoreless, and the Hillcats held on to win 1-0.

Martin shot out of the gate with three straight strikeouts in the bottom of the first inning.

Neither team had much going on at the plate through the first five frames. Martin walked two in a row with one out in the second inning but then induced a 6-3 double play to get out of the jam. That double play started a string of 13-straight retired for Martin. The streak and the no-hitter was then broken up with the first batter in the seventh. Read more

Hillcats benefit from sloppy play from Rocks, win 10-4

The Hillcats scored five runs in both the fifth and sixth innings tonight on their way to a 10-4 victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks. The Blue Rocks committed five errors which led to seven unearned runs. RHP Aaron Northcraft turned in another gem, tossing six innings, allowing just one run and striking out a season high eight on his way to his fourth win of the year.

The Blue Rocks took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff man Whit Merrifield doubled to start the frame. After an infield single moved Merrifield to third base, Brian Fletcher grounded into a 4-6 fielder’s choice to bring Merrifield home. Wilmington led 1-0 after the first. Read more