‘Cats lose another nailbiter to P-Nats

RHP David Hale tossed a career-high eight innings Tuesday afternoon in a 1-0 losing effort against the Potomac Nationals. Hale recorded his first career complete game, needing just 91 pitches to get through the eight innings of work. The Nationals staff was able to hold the Hillcats scoreless for the second straight day however and Hale suffered the loss.

The only run of the ball game scored in the bottom of the third. Reminiscent to the night before, it was Destin Hood of Potomac driving in the run. This time he grounded a ball up the middle, off the glove of Hale on the mound. Eury Perez scored from third on what turned out to be an infield single.

The Hillcats squandered numerous opportunities to score throughout the contest. Andrelton Simmons tripled in the first with one out, but Phil Gosselin popped up to second base behind him and Joey Terdoslavich flew out to left after that. In the second, Christian Bethancourt doubled and reached third on a wild pitch with nobody out, but again went stranded.

Late in the game, things go even more frustrating for the ‘Cats. Lynchburg put two runners on base in each of the last four innings, prompting Potomac to reach into their bullpen three different times. But each time the new arm out of the pen came in and stranded the two runners holding on to the shutout.

In the end the Hillcats stranded 10 base runners, and were 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

RHP Adam Olbrychowski (3-5) earned the win holding the Hillcats scoreless through five and one-third innings. RHP David Hale (1-4) was credited with the loss after eight innings and allowing just the one run.

The Hillcats fall for the second straight game 1-0. They’ve now been shut out 11 times this season, most in the league. In the second half, the ‘Cats are now 8-17 in fourth place in the Carolina League Northern Division. The Nationals improved to 16-9 since the All-Star break and will at least share the lead in the Northern Division by the end of Carolina League play tonight.

The Nationals and Hillcats conclude their four-game set Wednesday night at 7:05 pm. RHP Zeke Spruill (7-8) will get the ball for Lynchburg against LHP Danny Rosenbaum (5-4 ) for Potomac. Listen live to all the action starting with the Hillcats On-Deck Show powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg on 105.5 KD Country and online at lynchburg-hillcats.com.