Lynchburg and Carolina traded the lead three times, but the Mudcats pulled away for a 5-3 win over the Hillcats on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium. With the loss and a Frederick Keys win over Winston-Salem, the Hillcats cannot clinch a playoff spot until at least Tuesday.
BACK AND FORTH AFFAIR
Lynchburg jumped ahead with an early 1-0 lead as Clint Frazier and Joe Sever recorded back-to-back doubles with Severdriving in Frazier. Carolina responded in the bottom of the frame as the first three batters reached to load the bags for a sacrifice fly by Carlos Franco that tied the game at one. The Muddies pulled ahead on a RBI single by Joseph Odom to take a 2-1 lead.
Lynchburg scored a run in each the second and third innings to take a 3-2 lead over the Mudcats. In the second, Ivan Castillosingled with two outs before Bobby Ison ripped a RBI double to right field that tied the game at two. In the third, Paul Hendrixblasted a solo home run over the left field wall to give the Hillcats the lead.
Carolina tied the game once again as Jacob Schrader cranked a solo home run in the bottom of the third that tied the game at 3-all.
STREAK IS SNAPPED
Hillcats pitcher Luis Lugo started the game on the heels of the longest outing of his career, but struggled against the Mudcats.Lugo allowed three runs on five hits while walking four batters as he tossed just four innings in the start. Justin Brantley took over in the fifth and gave up back-to-back singles and retired the next two batters before surrendering a RBI single to Joey Meneses that gave the Mudcats a 4-3 lead. The run snapped a 28 consecutive inning scoreless streak for the Hillcats bullpen stretching 12 games.
ADDING INSURANCE
Carolina plated another run in the seventh inning as Schrader singled, Franco walked and Joseph Odom singled to load the bases before Joey Meneses drove an RBI single that scored Schrader to give the Mudcats a 5-3 lead where the score would remain.
KEEPING UP WITH THE CATS
Bobby Ison went 3-for-4 at the plate to tie a career high for the seventh time and his first three-hit game as a Hillcat…Ison has recorded a multi-hit game in three of his last five contests and finishes the series with the Mudcats going 6-for-12 with a pair of doubles and a pair of RBIs…With the loss and a Frederick win over Winston-Salem, the Hillcats magic number remains at one with seven games to play…With a win or a Frederick loss on Tuesday, the Hillcats will clinch a playoff berth for the fourth straight season, marking the first time the team has made four straight playoff appearances since the franchise clinched four in a row from 1982-1985 as a Mets affiliate
UP NEXT
Lynchburg will have a day off on Monday before opening a three-game series with the Salem Red Sox at City Stadium on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. Fans can tune in to the action on ESPN Virginia 93.3 FM and 1320 AM as well as www.lynchburg-hillcats.com beginning at 6:10 p.m. for the Hillcats On-Deck Show.
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Chris Graham
