The Lynchburg Hillcats were swept for the third time this season today as they fell 10-6 to the Potomac Nationals. Jayson Werth, in his final rehab game with Potomac went deep twice and drove in six runs. The ‘Cats homered four times as a team, including three blasts in the sixth inning, but all were solo shots. Lynchburg is now a game and a half behind the first place Nationals in the Northern Division.
Lynchburg (29-25) went ahead 1-0 in the first inning. Matt Lipka and Ross Heffley singled putting runners at first and third for William Beckwith. The Hillcats first baseman lined out to left field, but deep enough to bring Lipka home on a sacrifice fly.
The Nationals (31-24) came back with three in the bottom of the first. Greg Ross allowed the first six batters to reach walking three and giving up three singles. Jason Martinson walked in a run, and Kevin Keyes singled in two.
Another sac fly in the second gave the Hillcats their second run. Cory Brownsten drove in Kyle Kubitza. Beckwith added a solo homer in the third to tie the game at 3-3.
After the slow start, Ross retired 11 in a row from the first threw the first two out of the fourth. He lost his control again walking two consecutive batters. Werth came up with two on and two out and launched his first of two three-run shots. The Nationals went up 6-3.
Potomac’s starter A.J. Cole pitched into the sixth inning. He struck out Beckwith and gave up a solo home to Robby Hefflinger before the bullpen was called upon. It was Hefflinger’s 16th home run of the season, which lead the Carolina League and is currently tied for the most in all of Minor League Baseball. Shawn McGill went back-to-back with Hefflinger homering off the new pitcher Greg Holt. Holt then struck out Kyle Kubitza before giving up another blast to Will Skinner. The ‘Cats still trailed 7-6.
Matt Chaffee threw well in relief for the Hillcats. He completed a season-high three innings and struck out a season-high five batters in three scoreless innings in relief of Ross. John Cornely came in for the eighth inning. He surrendered another three-run homer to Werth to make it 10-6.
Cole (2-2) earned the win giving up four runs in 5.1 innings, while Ross (2-2) suffered the loss allowing seven runs on seven hits in four-plus frames.
The Hillcats will travel to Frederick, Maryland next to face to the Keys in a four-game set. The series opener is scheduled for tomorrow night at 7:00pm. The ‘Cats will throw RHP Navery Moore (6-4, 5.10) against RHP Zach Petersime (2-5, 7.56) for Frederick. Erik Wilson will have the call starting at 6:40pm with the Hillcats On-Deck Show powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg at 6:40. Listen live on 97.9 FM The Planet and online at lynchburg-hillcats.com
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Chris Graham
