Lynchburg claimed the opening game of a doubleheader, 2-0, but fell in extra innings in the nightcap, 5-4 in eight frames. Joe Sever produced a game-tying hit with two outs in the seventh inning of game two, but Myrtle Beach prevailed to prevent a Hillcats sweep Saturday at TicketReturn.com Field.
STRAIGHT TO THE POINT IN GAME ONE
Lynchburg scored two runs in the first inning of the initial game, which held up for the duration of the contest. Luigi Rodriguez opened the day with a walk, stole second base, and scored two batters later on an RBI single by Bradley Zimmer. With two outs in the stanza, Paul Hendrix drove in Zimmer to account for the final run of the contest.
Luis Lugo (4-5) tossed five innings and only allowed one hit in his final start before the All-Star Break. Lugo struck out four and exited the game after 85 pitches. Casey Weathers earned a hold with a scoreless sixth, and Ben Heller struck out a pair in the seventh to earn his seventh save of the year. It marked the Hillcats’ fourth shutout of the season and the team’s second against Myrtle Beach after also blanking the Pelicans, 1-0, on June 12.
BONUS BASEBALL
Trailing 4-1 at the end of the first inning in game two, Lynchburg chipped away at its deficit with one in the third and another in the fourth. The Hillcats had the tying run at third base in each of the next two frames but couldn’t even the score until the seventh. Down to the team’s last strike, Joe Sever singled up the middle to drive in Paul Hendrix and tie the game. AUDIO: Sever game-tying single
However, in the eighth inning, Pin-Chieh Chen walked and advanced to third on a line-drive single to right field by Chesny Young. Jeimer Candelariofollowed with a base hit to right field to end the game.
MYRTLE MASHES IN FIRST
Lynchburg plated the first run of game two after Luigi Rodriguez tripled and later scored on a single by Paul Hendrix, giving Hendrix an RBI in the first inning of each contest Saturday. AUDIO: Hendrix RBI single
Myrtle Beach answered in the home half of the first with four runs on five hits, knocking Mitch Brown out of the game after only recording two outs. Kevin Brown, Daniel Lockhart, and Jordan Hankins posted three consecutive two-out RBI base hits as part of the rally.
ONE AT A TIME
Lynchburg trailed 4-1 entering the third inning when Clint Frazier doubled and LeVon Washington and Paul Hendrix walked to load the bases. With two outs, Eric Haase also drew a walk to pick up his 29th RBI of the year and cut the margin to 4-2. In the fourth inning, Yhoxian Medina walked and Ivan Castillo hit a triple into the right-center field gap to pull the Hillcats within one, 4-3. AUDIO: Castillo triple
KEEPING UP WITH THE ‘CATS
Lynchburg has played in eight doubleheaders this season and posted a 6-10 record in those games…The Hillcats fell to 1-4 in extra innings, including 0-2 in extra-inning doubleheader games…Lynchburg is 2-7 this year in games decided in the last at-bat and has now been the victim of two walk-offs this year after Frederick ended a game against the Hillcats in the bottom of the 16th on April 13 with a 5-4 victory.
UP NEXT
Lynchburg closes out the first half of 2015 with a Sunday contest at Myrtle Beach at 6:05 p.m. Dace Kime (2-2, 4.38) will square off against Daury Torrez(4-5, 4.64). Fans can tune in to the action on ESPN Virginia 93.3 FM and 1320 AM as well as www.lynchburg-hillcats.com beginning at 5:40 p.m. for the Hillcats On-Deck Show.
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Chris Graham
