A season-high eight runs crossed the plate for the Lynchburg Hillcats in the second inning and pushed them to an 11-2 win over the Frederick Keys on Wednesday night. The Hillcats sent 12 men to the plate and Joe Sever collected two hits in the inning.
Lynchburg trailed after one and a half when Frederick scored two in the top of the second. Brenden Webb led off with a walk and later stole second. He came around to score on an RBI single from Adrian Marin. On the play, Marin advanced to second on an error in centerfield. After he moved to third on a groundout, Austin Wynns picked up a sacrifice fly to push the lead to two.
The Hillcats answered in a big way in the bottom of the inning, to the tune of eight runs on six hits and three walks. Paul Hendrix led off with a walk and moved to second on a base hit by Joe Sever. The bases were loaded after a walk to Mike Papi. Ivan Castillo then tied the game at two with a two-run single to left. After Luigi Rodriguez walked to reload the bases, Clint Frazier hit an infield single to give the ‘Cats a one run lead. Bradley Zimmer pushed the lead to three with a single that scored two more. Nellie Rodriguez followed with a sacrifice fly before Hendrix knocked in another with a single. Sever then collected an RBI on his second hit of the frame, a double to left. When the smoke cleared, the Hillcats led 8-2 and sent a season-high 12 men to the plate.
Things would only get worse for the Keys as the Hillcats scored one in the fifth, sixth, and seventh, including the fifth home run of the year by Nellie Rodriguez in the sixth. Rodriguez hit a ball deep into the night in left that tied him atop the Carolina League home run leaderboard.
Michael Peoples picked up his second win of the year, improving to 2-3. He went five innings and only allowed the two runs in the second inning. He struck out four and forced two double plays.
Clayton Cook and Ben Heller closed out the 11-2 win and forced a rubber match on Thursday morning.
Thursday’s game will begin at 11 a.m. It is TUCP “Smoke Free” Say No to Drugs Day. Fans that can’t make it out to the ballpark can tune in to ESPN Radio Virginia 93.3 FM and 1320 AM beginning at 10:40 a.m. for the Hillcats’ On-Deck Show.
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Chris Graham
