Clint Frazier doubled down the left-field line to open the ninth inning, and Bradley Zimmer followed with a triple into the right-field corner to plate the only run in a 1-0 Hillcats victory Friday night at TicketReturn.com Field. Michael Peoples, Justin Brantley, Casey Weathers, and Ben Heller combined for a two-hitter.
NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT
Lynchburg and Myrtle Beach combined for only five hits in the first eight innings Friday night. Though the Hillcats had already seen the leadoff man reach base five times in the game, including a double by Alex Monsalve in the fifth, Clint Frazier’s two-bagger in the ninth finally led to a run in the game.
Bradley Zimmer squared around to bunt the first two pitches he saw, but both missed the zone. With a 2-0 count, Zimmer received the green light to swing away, and he ripped a line drive into the right-field corner for a triple and the only RBI of the game.
DUEL ON THE BEACH
Michael Peoples and Tyler Skulina did not factor into the decision, but each starter set the tone for a hard-fought pitchers’ duel Friday night. Peoples (4-3) tossed five scoreless innings and only allowed two hits while striking out four. Meanwhile, Skulina held the Hillcats to only two hits and struck out seven in a season-high seven frames. Lynchburg is a combined 3-for-39 against Skulina this season.
Justin Brantley took the torch from Peoples and blanked Myrtle Beach for 2 2/3 innings. Casey Weathers (1-3) registered the final out of the eighth inning and earned the victory as a result. It marked the first win for Weathers since July 30, 2012. Ben Heller worked a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts to notch his sixth save of the season.
KEEPING UP WITH THE ‘CATS
Lynchburg improved to a 1-1 record in 1-0 ballgames after falling to Potomac on April 11 by a 1-0 score…The Hillcats have now shutout three opponents this season…Lynchburg has held an opponent to two hits on three different occasions in 2015…Lynchburg defeated Frederick 9-0 in a two-hitter on April 22and also limited Winston-Salem to two hits in a 4-2 victory May 27…Casey Weathers’ last victory on July 30, 2012 came as a member of the Tennessee Smokies, the Double-A affiliate for the Chicago Cubs.
UP NEXT
Lynchburg has a chance to improve to .500 for the first time since April 12 with a victory Saturday at Myrtle Beach. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. withD.J. Brown (3-2, 4.84) starting for the Hillcats against Jen-Ho Tseng (2-2, 3.92). 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 6:40 p.m. for the Hillcats On-Deck Show.
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Chris Graham
