Lynchburg Hillcats down Dash, 8-3

Lynchburg used four consecutive RBI doubles in the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie and eventually claim an 8-3 victory against the Winston-Salem Dash at Calvin Falwell Field Sunday evening.

Will Skinner’s solo home run to lead off the second inning highlighted a 3-for-4 day that also included two doubles and three RBIs, while Jose Martinez went 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored to help spearhead the offensive effort. In total, the Hillcats (36-37) posted 15 hits, including at least one in each of the first seven innings.

With the score tied 3-3, Daniel Castro initiated a stretch of six straight Hillcats reaching when he hit a single to left field. Martinez followed with an RBI double to right field, and Eric Garcia hit an RBI two-bagger of his own to center field. Emerson Landoni contributed the third straight RBI double to right field, and Skinner capped off the run of four consecutive extra-base hits with a double down the right field line to give him his third RBI of the day and his 29th of the season. Despite spending more than a week on the disabled list, Skinner is tied for the Carolina League lead with 21 doubles. Levi Hyams’ RBI single drove in Skinner and moved the difference to 8-3 in favor of the Hillcats.

Cody Scarpetta (1-1) tossed seven innings, only allowing one earned run out of the three he was charged with. Scarpetta surrendered six hits while striking out five and walking one. Nate Hyatt pitched two scoreless innings and struck out four to finish the game. Kyle Hansen (3-4) took the loss after allowing the first four runs of the seventh.

Skinner’s big day began with a leadoff home run in the second inning to cut an early Hillcats deficit to 2-1. Skinner drove a 2-1 pitch deep over the left field fence for his team-leading fifth home run of the season, all of which have come at City Stadium.

Trailing 2-1 in the third, Martinez hit a one-out double to right field and advanced to third on an error by Jason Coats. Kevin Ahrens was hit by a pitch to put the go-ahead run on base. Landoni hit a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Martinez and tie the game at 2-all. Skinner then hit an RBI double to left field to put the Hillcats on top, 3-2.

Lynchburg held the one-run advantage until Winston-Salem (32-41) tied the game in the top of the seventh after Keon Barnum doubled and later scored on a 4-6-3 double play.

The Dash scored the first two runs of the contest after Tim Anderson began the game with a double, and Jacob May bunted his way on base. Anderson scored on a passed ball. May came home later in the inning when he stole third base, and Joe Odom’s throw went into left field. Both runs were unearned.

Lynchburg will try to reach the .500 mark when it battles Winston-Salem in the second game of the series Monday night. Jarett Miller (3-6, 4.46) will take the mound against J.B. Wendelken (5-6, 3.76) in the 7:05pm contest. Gates open at 6pm, and the game will be broadcast on 97.9 The Planet beginning with the Hillcats On-Deck Show presented by Amtrak Virginia at 6:40pm.