The Lynchburg Hillcats lost to the Potomac Nationals 5-3 tonight letting a 3-0 lead slip away in the sixth. A.J. Holland was sharp through five scoreless innings until a line drive hit him on his left hip to lead off the sixth. He stayed in the game but didn’t retire another batter. Four runs scored in that inning, all of which were charged to Holland, and the Hillcats never recovered.
Kyle Kubitza gave the Hillcats (7-17, 43-49) the early lead in the second inning with a two-run homer. It was his ninth home run of the season. David Rohm put the ‘Cats up 3-0 with a sac fly to right field in the top of the sixth.
Things clearly turned on the Hillcats after Caleb Ramsey hit a line drive back to the mound in the bottom of the sixth. The ball ricocheted to first base, but Ramsey beat it out for an infield single. The trainer and coaches came out to check on Holland (4-6) whose body language suggested he had some discomfort in his left side. He threw a few warm up pitches and decided to stay in the game. He immediately plunked his next batter with a fastball. Adrian Nieto followed with a single, and then Kevin Keyes cleared the bases with a double. The game was tied 3-3. Holland gave up one more single before Carlos Perez was called out of the bullpen.
Perez entered a tie game with runners at first and third and nobody out. In the midst of striking out the side in order, Perez threw a wild pitch that allowed the go ahead run to score. The pitcher of record for Potomac became reliever David Fischer, who gave up a run in the sixth inning before the Nationals (14-10, 56-37) came back.
Potomac added an insurance run in the seventh. Perez was unable to retire a batter walking two and allowing two hits. John Cornely relieved Perez with the ‘Cats down 5-3 and the bases loaded. He struck out two and induced a ground out to third base stranding the bases full.
The Hillcats were unable to score again, as Brian Dupra sat down six in row in the seventh and eighth. Richie Mirowski tossed the ninth scoreless stranding a two single for Elmer Reyes.
Fischer (3-0) earned the win and Mirowski recorded his sixth save, while Holland dealt with the loss.
Lynchburg has lost their last five games at Pfitzner Stadium, including two this week. Game three of the four game series is set for tomorrow at 7:05pm. RHP Greg Ross (5-4, 3.50) will start for the Hillcats against LHP Matt Purke (0-2, 8.56) for Potomac. The Hillcats On-Deck Show powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg will go on the air at6:40pm. Listen live to Erik Wilson with the call on 97.9 FM The Planet and online at lynchburg-hillcats.com
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Chris Graham
