Will Skinner’s solo home run in the second inning marked the first time all season the Lynchburg Hillcats scored first in a contest, but the lead did not last long as Frederick posted six-straight runs in response to take the series finale, 6-2.
With one out in the bottom of the second, Skinner crushed a pitch deep over the left field fence for his second home run of the season to give Lynchburg (2-2) the early 1-0 advantage. Skinner hit 16 homers last year before an injury cut his season short after just 71 games.
Frederick (2-2) answered in the fifth with a leadoff double by Jason Esposito followed by an RBI single by Glynn Davis to knot the score, 1-1. Davis finished the weekend 8-for-17 with four RBIs and a Carolina League-leading five runs scored.
The Keys broke the game open in the sixth when the first five batters all reached base, highlighted by a two-run homer by Michael Burgess. In total, Frederick scored four runs on five hits to hold a 5-1 lead after six innings. The visitors tacked on another run in the eighth with an RBI double by Joel Hutter.
Lynchburg’s second and final run came in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI groundout by Levi Hyams, which scored Josh Elander. Elander reached earlier in the frame on a base hit. Elander and Kevin Ahrens both went 2-for-4 in the game for the Hillcats.
Brady Wager (1-0) earned the victory for Frederick with five strong innings, only surrendering the solo shot to Skinner. Zach Jadofsky (1-1) took the loss after allowing four runs in one inning of work.
Lynchburg has an off day Monday before hitting the road for the first time in 2014. Andrew Waszak (0-0, 0.00) will make his first start of the year Tuesday against the lefty Nick Lee (0-0, -) of Potomac. Fans can tune in to live play-by-play coverage from Woodbridge, Va provided by Erik Wilson on 97.9 The Planet beginning with the Hillcats On-Deck Show presented by Amtrak Virginia at 6:40 pm.
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Chris Graham
