The Lynchburg Hillcats were blown out by the Buies Creek Astros on Sunday, falling 17-2 in the series finale.
The Hillcats (52-57, 23-19) suffered their largest margin of defeat this season as the Astros (26-17, 63-49) took two of three games to win the series.
Buies Creek started the scoring early and never looked back. Jacob Meyers swung at the first offering from Eli Morgan (Loss, 6-5) in the bottom of the first, and hit a home run over the left field fence for a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Bryan De La Cruz delivered a two-run single, while the Astros added another run on an error to push their lead to 4-0. With a runner at third and one out, Jake Adams lined an RBI single to right for a 5-0 advantage. After striking out Cody Bohanek, Morgan was pulled after just 0.2 innings and 37 pitches. Nick Pasquale came on and surrendered an RBI double to Jonathan Arauz, and the Astros led 6-0 after the first inning.
A 7-0 game in the third, Buies Creek added four more runs. Arauz connected with an RBI triple, and later in the frame, Corey Julks hit a bases-clearing three-run double. The Astros led 11-0 after three innings.
Heading into the bottom of the eighth, the Astros led 11-1 and scored six more runs, capped by a J.J. Matijevic grand slam off of Anthony Miller, a first baseman who was forced to come in to pitch in the ninth inning.
Buies Creek had five players tally multi-RBI games.
The Hillcats two runs came on an RBI fielder’s choice from Jodd Carter in the eighth and a Dillon Persinger RBI single in the ninth inning.
Lynchburg was out-hit on Sunday, 18-6, and all 17 runs allowed were earned.
Morgan gave up six earned runs on five hits in 0.2 innings. Pasquale allowed three runs on five hits in two frames, while Kyle Nelson also was tagged for two runs in 1.1 innings in his Hillcats debut. Leandro Linares logged 3.1 frames and was hit for four runs, while two runs were charged to Miller.
Carson LaRue (Win, 6-6) started for Buies Creek and fired five shutout innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out three.
The Hillcats will now head to Zebulon, N.C., to take on the Carolina Mudcats for the second leg of the road trip. The three-game series begins on Monday, with left-hander Anderson Polanco (1-1, 3.91) taking the hill for Lynchburg against righty Braden Webb (5-8, 4.47). First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Five County Stadium.
Max Gun will be on the air at 6:50 p.m. with the Hillcats pre-game show on TuneIn Radio and the Radio434 App.
Lynchburg returns home on Friday, August 10, against the Down East Wood Ducks. It will Be Margaritaville Night, featuring a live cover band pre-game, as well as $8 beeritas and concession deals. There will also be a t-shirt giveaway to the first 1,000 fans.
For tickets or more information, visit lynchburg-hillcats.com, call 434-528-1144, or visit the City Stadium box office.
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Chris Graham
