Lynchburg dropped the series opener to Winston-Salem at City Stadium, 10-2. Francisco Mejia extended his hitting streak to 49 games after roping a single to center field. Bobby Bradley went 2-4 with a solo home run and an opposite field double in the game.
Winston-Salem scratched across the first run of the game after Nick Basto singled and advanced to third on a throwing error in the second inning. Zack Collins singled to bring in Basto and make the count 1-0. In the fourth, Bobby Bradley hit his league-leading 23rd homer of the season over the right field wall after falling behind 0-2 in the count to tie the contest, 1-all. Bradley also moved into a tie for the league lead in RBIs with Anthony Santander at 86.
Winston-Salem strung together nine runs in the next four innings to pull away from the ‘Cats. In the top of the sixth the Dash recorded four hits, which included three extra-base hits. In the eighth Winston-Salem batted around and scored four more runs.Gerson Montilla tallied a four-hit performance in the contest.
Francisco Mejia was hitless through the first five innings until he led off the sixth with a line drive single. Just for good measure, he doubled in the seventh inning. Mejia now has 21 multi-hit games and 24 extra-base hits during his 49-game hitting streak, which is tied for the fifth-longest streak in Minor League Baseball history.
Sean Brady (11-5) started the game for Lynchburg and tossed five innings while giving up 12 hits and five earned runs. It marked the most hits Brady has allowed in his career after surrendering 11 hits to Salem in his last start. Dominic DeMasi threw 2 2/3 frames while allowing four runs. Matt Whitehouse finished the game for the Hillcats. The lefty struck out three batters while walking two and allowing a hit. Jordan Stephens (6-8) earned the win for the Dash after going 5 1/3 and holding the Hillcats to a lone run.
With the hit tonight Francisco Mejia tied Harry Chozen (1945) and Jack Ness (1915) for fifth on the all-time longest hit streak list… Bobby Bradley extended his league lead in the home run race to three…Lynchburg fell to 46-23 when hitting a home run…Bradley’s homer snapped a team streak of four-straight games without one, which amazingly is tied for the longest drought of the year. The Hillcats offense has not gone five games without hitting a home run all season.
The Hillcats look to rebound Saturday at Calvin Falwell Field. Lynchburg has yet to announce its starter for tomorrow’s contest. The Dash will send left-hander Tanner Banks (6-2, 4.15) to the mound. Fans can listen to the action on 93.3 FM and 1320 AM as well as www.lynchburg-hillcats.com, beginning with the Hillcats On-Deck Show at 6:15 p.m.
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Chris Graham
