It wasn’t looking good for the Hillcats on Tuesday night. Frederick’s starter David Hess had allowed one hit through the first five innings. That hit was an infield single by Luigi Rodriguez. Then in the sixth, the Lynchburg led off the inning with back to back bunt singles by Ivan Castillo and Clint Frazier.
Castillo dropped his on the grass down the third base line and beat the throw to first. Frazier also laid one down to third, but his rolled along the dirt and seemed to stay fair thanks to the chalk. Frederick’s catcher Chance Sisco stood over it, willing it to go foul, but it never did.
Trailing by a run with two out, Nellie Rodriguez drew a walk to load the bases without a ball ever leaving the infield. The walk knocked Hess out of the ballgame. He gave way to Dennis Torres. That set the stage for Eric Haase. Haase got a high fastball and drove it into the left-center field gap. It rolled all the way to the wall and when the dust cleared, Haase was standing on third and the Hillcats led 3-1.
Frazier tacked on another run in the eighth with a hard hit ball of the glove of third baseman Drew Dosch that scored James Roberts, making it 4-1.
Hillcats starter Adam Plutko turned in another solid effort, going five innings, striking out three, and allowing one run on five hits. Plutko has given up no more than one run in all three of his starts this season, despite his 0-1 record.
Robbie Aviles pitched a scoreless sixth and seveth and allowed one hit, Benny Suarez went 1.1 scoreless innings, and Casey Weathers recorded the final two outs of the evening, picking up his second save of the season.
The Hillcats wrap up a seven-game home stand on Wednesday evening at City Stadium. It’s Facebook Fan Appreciation Night, as well as Donate Life Organ Donor Registration Night. Fans who can’t make it out to the ballpark can tune in on ESPN Radio Virginia 93.3 FM and 1320 AM.
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Chris Graham
