Lynchburg Hillcats bats go silent in shutout loss

Navery Moore pitched six solid innings of one-run baseball in his second start of the season for the Lynchburg Hillcats, but the offense was held off the board for the first time this season in a 2-0 loss to Myrtle Beach Pelicans in Thursday’s series finale at City Stadium.

Lynchburg (4-2) had a four-game winning streak snapped and suffered their first shutout loss of the season one day after picking up their first shutout win of 2013.  Moore (0-2) bounced back from his difficult start opening day, allowing just one run in six innings. He gave up four hits and walked one while striking out three.

The lone run he surrendered came in the top of the first.  Rougned Odor doubled with one out and, after Moore got the second out of the inning, Trever Adams lined one over the head of second baseman Ross Heffley to drive in Odor and give Myrtle Beach (3-3) their first lead of the series.

That run would serve as the eventual winning run with the Pelicans pitching staff stymied the Hillcats hitters all night.  Starter Luke Jackson was overpowering, striking out seven in five scoreless innings and allowing just three hits.  Phil Klein provided two hitless innings and Nick McBride went six-up-six-down for a two-inning save, his first of the year.

Myrtle Beach tacked on an insurance run in the ninth.   Adams reached on a dropped third strike, stole second and advanced on a throwing error by catcher Cory Brownsten.  The next hitter Drew Robinson slapped one past the drawn in infield, down the line in right, to double home Adams and double the lead.  The run was the first surrendered by Caleb Brewer this season and snapped a 14-inning scoreless streak for the Hillcat bullpen.

The Hillcats look to rebound on Friday when they welcome the Potomac Nationals for a three-game weekend set at City Stadium.  First pitch is set for 6:05pm with gates opening at 5:00pm.  A.J. Holland (0-0, 7.71) makes the start for Lynchburg, taking on Nations starter Taylor Jordan (0-0, 0.00).  The first thousand fans through the gates will get a 2013 magnet schedule, courtesy of Realtor Nadine Blakely.  If you can’t make it to the ballpark, join Erik Wilson and Jake Levy for the broadcast on 97.9 FM The Planet and Lynchburg-hillcats.com.  The Hillcats On-Deck Show, powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg, starts at 5:40pm.