The doubleheader between the Lynchburg Hillcats and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans tonight was cut short due to rain. The Pelicans took game one 10-2, and were leading 3-2 in the second contest when the game was suspended with no outs in the bottom of the third inning.
Myrtle Beach got to Hillcats starter Navery Moore early in game one. Joe Maloney delivered a two-run single in the first inning to put the Pelicans up 2-0. The Hillcats tied the score in the third inning. Matt LIpka doubled home run and the scored courtesy of an error later in the frame. The tie was short-lived as the Pelicans racked up five more runs in the bottom of the third.
Five hits including a two runs triple for Preston Beck plated five runs for Myrtle Beach, giving them a 7-2 dvantage. Moore (7-7) remained in the game and finished the fourth inning, allowing three more runs. Rougned Odor doubled in a run, and Maloney added two more RBI to his total of four with another two-bagger.
Moore allowed 10 runs on 10 hits, walked two, and struck out five losing his third straight start. Meanwhile, Nick Martinez gave up just two runs in 5.1 innings for the Pelicans.
The Hillcats loaded the bases with one out when Martinez (7-4) was relieved by right-hander Randol Rojas. Levi Hyams struck out and Josh Elander grounded into a fielder’s choice, as Rojas stranded all three inherited runners.
Rojas tossed a scoreless seventh inning as well, and Martinez earned the win for the Pelicans.
Lynchburg jumped out to the early lead in game two. Lipka led off the game with a walk. Emerson Landoni then sent the first pitch he saw over the left field wall for a two run homer. It was his first home run as a Hillcats season, in his first game back from Double-A Mississippi.
A.J. Holland took the mound with a 2-0 lead, but that advantage was quickly cut in half. Luis Sardinas walked to start the bottom of the first. He stole second and then reached third on a ground out to first. Odor brought him home with a sac fly to left field.
The Pelicans took the lead from the ‘Cats in the second inning. Edwin Garcia hit a two-run homer off of Holland putting Myrtle Beach up 3-2. It was Garcia’s second home run in his last two games, and second of the season overall.
In the bottom of the third inning, the first two batters for the Pelicans reached before the rain started to fall in a hurry. In fact it rained so hard so quickly, that the tarp became unmovable before it could fully cover the third base line. After a few minutes of hard rain the tarp was pulled off the field. The infield had taken on too much water and after the mandatory 30 minute rain delay, the game was postponed.
None the of the stats from game two will count until the game is made up in August with the Hillcats return to Myrtle Beach. A four-game series scheduled from August 17-20 at TicketReturn.com Field. The game time and date for resuming the suspended contest is yet to be announced.
The Hillcats are still yet to win a game in Myrtle Beach this season (0-5) and have lost a season-high four in a row after the game one loss tonight. They sit at 2-7 in the second half in fourth place in the Northern Division.
Tomorrow, the road trip continues for the ‘Cats as they begin a three-game set against the Carolina Mudcats at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, NC. RHP Ryan Weber (4-3, 3.77) will take the mound for the Hillcats against LHP Shawn Morimando (4-8, 3.05) for the Mudcats. First pitch is at 7:15pm and the Hillcats On-Deck powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg will go on the air at 6:50pm. Tune in to Erik Wilson with the call on 97.9 FM The Planet and online atlynchburg-hillcats.com
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Chris Graham
