Hillcats shut out Keys, earn series win

A 13-hit, nine-run performance from the offense and a shut-out effort from the pitching staff led the way to the Hillcats first series win of the year. Joe Sever paced the Lynchburg hitters, as he finished his day with two hits and three RBIs, while Mitch Brown turned in his second quality start of the season to give the Hillcats a 9-0 win over the Frederick Keys in the rubber match of the series.

Sever got things kicked off in the second frame with a two-run double that scored Mike Papi and Luigi Rodriguez. Papi reached on a single, which extended his hitting streak to five. He had only one hit in the team’s first nine games.

Lynchburg tacked on three more in the fourth, when Alex Monsalve led off with a single and came around to score on three wild pitches by Frederick starter Luis Gonzalez. Luigi Rodriguez and Sever both walked to put runners on first and second. Rodriguez stole third and the Keys catcher Chance Sisco threw the ball into left field allowing him to score. After a James Roberts single put runners on the corners, Clint Frazier picked up his third RBI in as many games with a single to left, putting the Hillcats on top 5-0.

Lynchburg got one more in the fifth and sixth to make it 7-0, on Sever’s third RBI of the night, a single that scored Papi, and an RBI double from Nellie Rodriguez. Rofriguez lined one off the left field wall and scored Paul Hendrix.

Frazier picked up his second RBI of the night in the seventh, followed by a bases loaded walk by Bradley Zimmer to finish the scoring for the Lynchburg offense.

When it was all said and done, the Hillcats recorded 13 hits and walked 11 times. Luigi Rodriguez walked four times and collected a hit to extend his team-best hitting streak to eight games.

Mitch Brown earned his first win of the season. Brown, (1-1, 3.45) who recently changed his number from 54 to 45, went six innings, allowed two hits, three walks, and struck out four for his second consecutive quality start.

Delvy Francisco, Clayton Cook, and Ben Heller all pitched hitless innings in relief and closed out the nine-run win for the Hillcats. Cook and Heller both struck out two of the three hitters they faced.

Lynchburg is back at it on Friday for the first of four against the Potomac Nationals in Woodbridge at 7:05. Fans can listen to that game on ESPN Radio Virginia 93.3 FM and 1320 AM. The Hillcats On Deck Show begins at 6:45.