Four homers facilitate 8-4 Lynchburg win over Wilmington

In the series opener against Wilmington, Lynchburg hit four home runs, one shy of the franchise record. Bobby Bradley recorded his first multi-homer game with the Hillcats. Yu-Cheng Chang and Francisco Mejia hit solo shots in Lynchburg’s 8-4 win.

Lynchburg tallied a run in six of its eight turns at the plate. Three of the Hillcats home runs came when leading off the inning.Tyler Krieger led off the game with a double and came around to score on a single from Anthony Santander to tie the game at 1-all. Bobby Bradley slugged his first homer of the game to drive in two more runs and give the ‘Cats a 3-1 lead, which they would not surrender.

Lynchburg scratched across a run apiece in the second and third innings. Francisco Mejia’s single in the second plated Sicnarf Loopstok, who singled earlier in the frame. Bradley crushed his second roundtripper of the game with an opposite field shot in the third. Yu-Cheng Chang led the fifth stanza off with his 13th home run in his first game since returning from the Disabled List.

Mejia hit another solo shot to lead off the sixth and give the ‘Cats a 7-4 advantage. The final run of the ballgame was scored byYonathan Mendoza after he doubled to begin the eighth. Mejia singled to drive in his third run of the game, which tied Bradleyfor game honors. Five Hillcats players recorded multiple hits in the 16-hit parade.

Sean Brady picked up his Carolina League leading 12th win of the season after tossing six innings. He allowed seven hits including, a third inning home run to Brandon Downes and a sixth inning homer to Luis Villegas. Justin Garcia, Billy Strode, and Mitch Brown each tossed one scoreless inning to secure the victory. The trio each surrendered one hit and struck out multiple batters. Garcia and Strode struck out a pair while Brown struck out the side.

The Hillcats lead the league with 123 home runs, which is on pace for a team-record 134 this season…The ‘Cats have hit a home run in 77 of their 128 games this year…Bobby Bradley tallied his 100th RBI for the season tonight… It is the first time that has been accomplished in the Carolina League since 2010 when Tyler Moore had 111 for Potomac.

Lynchburg returns to action Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. against Wilmington. Brock Hartson (1-1, 6.46) will start for the Hillcats. 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 at 6:15 p.m.