Hillcats win third straight at Potomac, 4-3

Mike Papi’s first two RBIs of the season helped lead the Lynchburg Hillcats to their third consecutive victory at Potomac, 4-3, at Pfitzner Stadium Monday night.

Lynchburg (8-10) never trailed in the contest, grabbing its initial lead in the second inning when Papi and Alex Monsalve both walked to open the stanza. Luigi Rodriguez singled to right field and an error by Brandon Miller allowed Papi to score on the play.

The HIllcats plated two runs in the third inning without a hit. Four consecutive walks began the frame, as Clint Frazier, Paul Hendrix, Bradley Zimmer, and Nellie Rodriguez all earned free passes. Rodriguez received his team-leading 12th RBI of the season with a bases-loaded walk.Papi followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Hendrix and make it a 3-0 contest. At that point, the Hillcats only had three runs on one hit in the game.

Potomac (9-9) scored its first run in the fourth inning when Isaac Ballou lined a leadoff single up the middle, and Drew Ward eventually knocked him in on an RBI groundout.

Papi’s RBI double in the fifth inning quickly restored a three-run margin, as he brought home Zimmer, who also hit a double in the frame. The Nationals scored twice in the sixth to cut it to a one-run game, 4-3. Two different times Potomac had the tying and go-ahead runs both on base, but each time the Hillcats escaped the jam with the one-run advantage intact.

Michael Peoples (1-1) earned the win by pitching five-plus innings and limiting Potomac to three runs on six hits. The right-hander struck out four.Delvy Francisco and Benny Suarez each earned holds with scoreless appearances. Casey Weathers earned his third save in as many tries with a perfect ninth that included two strikeouts.

Lynchburg pitchers have recorded seven saves in the team’s eight victories. The seven saves are the most in the Carolina League.

The Hillcats will take their longest winning streak of the season back to City Stadium and play the Carolina Mudcats Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m.Adam Plutko (0-1, 1.53) will square off against former Hillcat Lucas Sims (1-2, 6.75). The game will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio 93.3/1320 AM and www.lynchburg-hillcats.com, beginning with the Hillcats On-Deck Show at 6:10 p.m.