The Lynchburg Hillcats dropped the series finale to the Wilmington Blue Rocks, 7-4, on Thursday, and were swept in the four-game series.
The Hillcats (26-29) fall to 1-6 this season against Wilmington (27-33), who had the worst record in the Carolina League entering this series.
Down 2-1 in the third inning, the Blue Rocks went ahead for good when Khalil Lee blasted a three-run home run, his fourth of the season and second of the series. The long ball gave the ‘Rocks a 4-2 lead.
Wilmington opened the scoring in the first inning. With two outs, Lee hit a double and crossed home when Gabriel Cancel ripped an RBI single.
Lynchburg quickly tied the game and grabbed a short-lived lead in the second. Luke Wakamatsu walked, and Emmanuel Tapia drove him home with an RBI double. Dillon Persinger followed with an RBI single, scoring Tapia to give the Hillcats a 2-1 lead.
Wilmington would add some insurance and make it a 6-2 game the fourth inning. Vance Vizcaino and Angelo Castellano reached on back-to-back singles, and both scored when D.J. Burt hit a two-run triple.
The ‘Rocks scored their final run of the night on an error in the seventh.
The Hillcats pulled to within three runs in the eighth inning. Jorma Rodriguez plated a run on an RBI groundout and Trenton Brooks grooved an RBI single, but the comeback bid fell short.
Tanner Tully (Loss, 2-6) allowed six earned runs on nine hits in five innings. He matched a season-high with seven strikeouts. Ben Krauth allowed an unearned run in two innings of relief and James Karinchak pitched a scoreless eighth.
Wilmington starter Anthony Bender (Win, 3-2) tied a season-high with seven innings pitched, and allowed two earned runs on four hits.
The Hillcats return home on Friday to begin a four-game series with the Potomac Nationals. Lynchburg will send right-hander Eli Morgan (2-0, 1.96) to the mound in the series-opener, opposite of P-Nats righty Wil Crowe (7-0, 2.63). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at City Stadium.
Homestand highlights include Breast Cancer Awareness Night on Friday, Sparking Saturday featuring a post-game fireworks show and Sandlot Sunday when kids run the bases post-game, as well as family catch and wiffle ball in the outfield.
Max Gun will be on the air at 6:20 p.m. with the Hillcats pre-game show on TuneIn Radio and the Radio434 App.
For tickets and more information visit Lynchburg-hillcats.com, the City Stadium Box Office, or call 434-528-1144.
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Chris Graham
