Wilmington erased a five-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning and walked-off with a win in the bottom of the 10th to steal a 7-6 victory over Lynchburg on Saturday night at Frawley Stadium. The loss by the Hillcats ended their chance to win their fifth straight game and overshadowed a career-high four hits by Yhoxian Medina and Nellie Rodriguez’s 16th home run of the year.
JUMPING AHEAD EARLY
For the seventh consecutive game, the Wilmington Blue Rocks scored first as they tallied a run in the bottom of the fourth inning.Elier Hernandez singled to lead off the inning and stole second base before Cam Gallagher doubled to right field to give Wilmington an early 1-0 lead.
LATE TO THE PARTY
Lynchburg was held scoreless through the first five innings before finally breaking through in the top of the sixth. Yhoxian Medina hit a double to left and was driven home two batters later on a single by Nellie Rodriguez to tie the game at one.
AUDIO: Nellie Rodriguez RBI single
The Hillcats scored a run in four consecutive innings to take a 6-1 lead over the Blue Rocks. In the top of the seventh, Eric Haase was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and was driven home on a RBI single by Medina to give the Hillcats a 2-1 lead.
In the eighth, Dorssys Paulino reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second base on a wild pitch before Haase roped a RBI double to left field that scored Paulino to make it 3-1 Hillcats.
Wilmington made things easy for the Hillcats in the top of the ninth as Ivan Castillo walked to begin the inning before Medinarecorded his second double of the day to put runners at second and third base with one out. Castillo scored from third on a wild pitch by Estarlin Cordero, and Gallagher let a ball get past him that scored Medina to give the Hillcats a 5-1 lead. Nellie Rodriguez wasn’t satisfied and smashed his league-leading 16th home run of the year to straightaway center field, extending the margin to 6-1.
AUDIO: Nellie Rodriguez home run
INSURANCE WASN’T ENOUGH
With a five-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Ben Heller entered the game for the Hillcats to seal the deal; however, things did not go as planned. Heller struck out the first batter in the frame but surrendered three straight singles to load the bases for Wilmington. After striking out Dominique Taylor, Carlos Garcia walked with the bases loaded to bring the Blue Rocks within four, 6-2, with the tying run at the plate. Heller surrendered a single to Humberto Arteaga that scored Gallagher to cut the lead down to just three runs.
Trevor Frank entered the game to relieve Heller with two outs and the bases loaded. He surrendered a bases-clearing double toRobert Pehl that tied the game at six, blowing a five-run lead.
EXTRA, EXTRA
Dorssys Paulino singled to lead off the 10th inning for the Hillcats but was unable to score. In the bottom of the frame, Frankretired the first batter of the frame, and the Hillcats caught Jack Lopez in a rundown to record the first two outs. Logan Moonsingled and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice, and Frank issued a walk to Garcia that, once again, loaded the bases for Wilmington. Arteaga put an end to the game with a bloop single to right field that scored Moon and completed a comeback victory for the Blue Rocks.
KEEPING UP WITH THE ‘CATS
Dace Kime turned in another quality start for the Hillcats…The right-hander pitched six innings and allowed just one run on six hits while striking out five …Kime has earned three straight no-decisions when turning in a quality start…Yhoxian Medina set a career-high with four hits in the game…The infielder entered the contest with just three doubles on the year but recorded a pair of two-baggers in the loss on Saturday…Medina’s previous career high was three hits, which he had achieved 10 times.
UP NEXT
Lynchburg will look to get back in the win column with a matchup against the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Sunday afternoon at5:05 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 4:40 p.m. for the Hillcats On-Deck Show.
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