Lynchburg won the rubber match with the Blue Rocks 8-0 to improve to 31-16 on the season. Sean Brady and Matt Whitehouse combined for Lynchburg’s sixth shutout of the season. Bobby Bradley delivered the big hit of the contest with a two-run homer in the fifth inning.
Sean Brady (3-3) had one of his best outings of the year as he matched a season high with seven innings pitched. The southpaw struck out a career-high eight Wilmington batters while only allowing two walks as he had control of his arsenal tonight. He pitched around five hits and lowered his season earned run average to 4.44.
Matt Whitehouse made his Hillcats debut in the shutout. The fellow left-hander pitched to contact and only allowed two hits. A leadoff double by Wander Franco threatened the shutout as the Blue Rock third baseman eventually reached third base. Speedy centerfielder Greg Allen made an over the shoulder catch on a fly ball to the warning track to end the game and secure the shutout.
The Hillcats scored their first run of the game in the second inning after Sicnarf Loopstok hit a line drive double down the left field line and brought in Yu-Cheng Chang. Lynchburg put up five more runs in the fifth inning. The big inning started with aDavid Armendariz double and was followed by a single from Claudio Bautista. Greg Allen brought both runners home with a ground ball double down the left field line. Anthony Santander’s single scored Allen and set up Bobby Bradley to break the game open.
Bobby Bradley took advantage of the opportunity and hit his league leading 11th round tripper with a line drive over the right field wall. Lynchburg tacked on two more runs in the seventh frame, which started off with two walks by Mark Mathias andAnthony Santander. Yu-Cheng Chang singled to drive in the first run, and Juan De La Cruz grounded into a fielder’s choice to bring in the second.
With Bobby Bradley’s fifth-inning homer the Hillcats have homered in eight straight games dating back to May 19 against the Salem Red Sox… The eight game streak sets a season high for consecutive games with a home run which… The ‘Cats are 6-0 in shutouts and in games where they score eight runs…The Hillcats’ six shutouts are the most in the Carolina League, and they are the only team to avoid being blanked offensively this year.
Lynchburg will face off against the Salem Red Sox Friday at 6:30 p.m. Both teams sit atop their respective Carolina League divisions. Left-hander Justus Sheffield (3-1, 3.00) will matchup with against fellow southpaw Trey Ball (2-0, 1.86). Fans can listen to the action on 93.3 FM and 1320 AM as well as www.lynchburg-hillcats.com, beginning with the Hillcats On-Deck Show at6:15 p.m.
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Chris Graham
