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Hillcats magic number down to two after falling to Keys

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lynchburg hillcatsThe Lynchburg Hillcats got the tying run to the plate in the ninth but could not complete the comeback in a 6-3 loss to the Frederick Keys Monday night at City Stadium.  The Hillcats scored just three runs despite ten hits in the game.  Levi Hyams, Kyle Kubitza and Daniel Castro all drove in runs for Lynchburg.  The Wilmington Blue Rocks lost on the night so the Hillcats still saw their ‘magic number’ shrink to just two.

After Williams Perez took a ground ball off his ankle from the second batter of the game, which warranted a visit from the Hillcats (31-31, 67-64) trainer, he battled through the pain for five scoreless innings before the wheels came off in the sixth.

Ten men came to the plate for Frederick (24-38, 58-73) as they plated four runs.  A two-run home run by Michael Mosby got the scoring started then later in the inning a two-out single from nine-hitter Sammy Starr drove in two more runs.  A.J. Holland would be called on from the bullpen and he stranded the bases loaded to prevent further damage.

Perez (6-2) took the loss after 5.2 innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on seven hits while walking four and striking out five. Knuckleballer Zach Clark (1-6) got his first win with six shutout innings.

Mosby hit his second home run in the game in the seventh; a two-run shot off Holland to dead center.  Mosby had one home run in his first 29 games with the Keys but went yard twice to lead the offence Monday night.

The Hillcats finally got on the board in the seventh on a fielder’s choice from Levi Hyams.  He had a bases loaded, one out opportunity and beat out the backend of a would-be double play to let the run come across.

The first three batters reached in the ninth for the Hillcats. After a strikeout, Daniel Castro worked a walk to plate the ‘Cats second run before Kubitza grounded out, 3-unassisted, for the final run.  David Rohm flew out to end the ball game.  He wend 0-for-5 while grounding into three double plays and striking out once to go along with his game-ending flyout.

The Hillcats look to win the series in the final meeting between the Hillcats and Keys this season Tuesday at 7:05pm.  Gates open at6pm and you can get half-price General Admission tickets ($4) courtesy of ABC 13.  Ryan Hinson (3-3, 2.40) takes the ball for Lynchburg against Trent Howard (3-1, 2.56) for Frederick.  Erik Wilson and Jake Levy have the radio broadcast starting with the Hillcats On-Deck Show, powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lychburg, at 6:40pm on 97.9 FM The Planet and lynchburg-hillcats.com

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