Four-run fourth lifts Wilmington past Lynchburg, 5-3

Wilmington used a four-run third inning to pull ahead of Lynchburg for a 5-3 win on Sunday afternoon at Calvin Falwell Field at City Stadium. Nellie Rodriguez recorded his first multi-home run game of the season in a losing effort.

 

KISS IT GOODBYE

Lynchburg jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Clint Frazier reached on a walk with two outs, and Nellie Rodriguez roped his 11th home run of the season to give the Hillcats the lead. With the free pass, Frazier has now reached base in his last 18 games.

AUDIO: Nellie Rodriguez two-run home run

 

In the top of the third inning, things started to get hairy for Luis Lugo and the Hillcats. Dexter Kjerstad, Jack Lopez, andMauricio Ramos each singled to load the bases before Cody Stubbs recorded a two-run double to tie the game at two. Stubbshas amassed five RBIs in the last three games against Lynchburg with a pair of solo home runs and a double.

Wilmington wasn’t done in the third, however, as Elier Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Ramos, giving Wilmington a 3-2 lead. Alfredo Escalera singled to complete the four-run third, scoring Stubbs to make it 4-2 Blue Rocks. Lugo left the game after the fourth inning as he allowed four runs on eight hits while walking and striking out two.

 

SO NICE, HE DID IT TWICE

Delvy Francisco and Perci Garner, who made his Hillcats debut, each pitched two scoreless innings and allowed just one hit combined to keep the score in place through the top of the eighth inning. In the home half of the frame, with one out and no one on base, Nellie Rodriguez pounded his second home run over the left field wall to bring the Hillcats within one, 4-3. It was the first multi-home run game for Rodriguez this season and the fourth of his career. The last multi-home run game for the Hillcats came on May 30 when Clint Frazier hammered two bombs on the road at Frederick.

AUDIO: Nellie Rodriguez solo home run

 

COLLECTING INSURANCE

In the top of the ninth, Wilmington added an extra run for good measure. Jack Lopez reached on an error by Paul Hendrix and advanced to second on a single by Mauricio Ramos. Lopez stole third base and came home to score on an errant throw bySicnarf Loopstok to give Wilmington a 5-3 lead.

 

KEEPING UP WITH THE ‘CATS

Mike Papi singled in his first at-bat to extend his hit streak to 14 games…Papi has now tied the Carolina League season-high of 14 games that was set by Winston-Salem’s Jake Peter earlier this year…Paul Hendrix had reached base in 15 consecutive games, but went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, snapping the streak…Nellie Rodriguez moved into the league lead for home runs with 12 this year…He continues to pace the Carolina League with 65 RBIs…Rodriguez’s last multi-homer effort came against South Bend on July 5, 2014.

 

UP NEXT

Lynchburg will look to win the series against the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Monday night at 6:30 p.m. It will be BOGO Monday at City Stadium as fans will receive buy one, get one deals on general admission tickets and select concession items. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m.  Fans can tune in to the action on ESPN Virginia 93.3 FM and 1320 AM as well as www.lynchburg-hillcats.combeginning at 6:10 p.m. for the Hillcats On-Deck Show.