Jake Paulson commanded the strike zone all night long, facing just three over the minimum through six innings, in a 5-0 shutout win for the Lynchburg Hillcats over the Frederick Keys on Monday.
Paulson (Win, 1-1) was not only effective, but also efficient, tossing just 70 pitches over six innings, giving up just four hits and walking one. He didn’t record a strikeout, but he didn’t need to, as he rolled ground ball after ground ball, recording 15 of his outs on the ground, to just one through the air.
After stranding the bases loaded against Ofelky Peralta (Loss, 0-1) in the first inning, the Hillcats got on the board in the third. With one out, Gavin Collins doubled to right-center, and advanced to third on a mishandled relay throw. Anthony Miller followed and hit a towering fly ball to the warning track in right field, plenty deep enough to score Collins from third base, giving Lynchburg (5-6) the 1-0 advantage over Frederick (6-6)
An inning later the Hillcats struck again. Jodd Carter laid down a bunt single to lead off the inning, and Logan Ice followed with a bloop single down the left field line. Alexis Pantoja advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, setting up Mitch Longo, who hit a screaming line drive just inside the third base bag to score Carter and make it 2-0.
In the sixth, Luke Wakamatsu and Conner Capel started a two out rally with back-to-back singles. After Capel stole third, Collins bounced one deep in the hole at shortstop, and the throw from Chris Clare pulled his first baseman off the bag, scoring Wakamatsu, and putting the Hillcats ahead 3-0.
Lynchburg would put the nail in the coffin in the seventh. Trenton Brooks led off with a single to left, followed by a Carter double to the left field corner. Ice would make it three hits in a row, lining a two strike pitch to right field for a two-run single and extending the Hillcats lead to 5-0.
Micah Miniard (Save, 1) relieved Paulson for the final three innings, and picked up right where the Lynchburg starter left off. Miniard retired nine of the ten batters he faced, allowing just a walk, while picking up his first save of the season.
Peralta allowed two runs on three hits in four innings. Francisco Jimenez took over and surrendered three runs on six hits in three innings.
The Hillcats picked up their third shutout of the season, while tallying a season-high ten hits. Offensively, they reached base in every inning. All nine starters reached base, with eight doing so with a hit.
The Hillcats and Keys are back at it Tuesday night for game two in the three-game series. Lefty Sam Hentges (1-0, 0.90) will start for the Hillcats against fellow southpaw Alex Wells (0-0, 1.74) for Frederick. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. It’s 2Fur Tuesday at the ballpark with buy-one, get-one tickets and $2 concessions deals.
Max Gun and Matt Present will bring you the action beginning at 6:20 p.m. on the Hillcats Baseball Network, which is accessible through TuneIn Radio, and the Radio434 App.
For tickets and more information visit Lynchburg-hillcats.com, the City Stadium ticket office, or call 434-528-1144.
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Chris Graham
