The Lynchburg Hillcats used a six-run first inning to blow out the Frederick Keys, 10-1, on Monday.
The Hillcats (8-4, 37-42) homered three times in the first inning, and five times on the night, to hand the Keys (3-9, 38-43) their fifth straight loss.
Ernie Clement led off the game with a single and scored on a double from Mitch Longo one batter later. The next batter, Conner Capel, blasted a two-run home run, his sixth of the year, to give Lynchburg an early 3-0 lead. After Li-Jen Chu singled, Trenton Brooks crushed a two-run shot, his second of the season, stretching the lead to 5-0 before Cristian Alvarado (Loss, 7-6) recorded an out. With two away, Anthony Miller joined the home run parade, lifting his fourth homer of the year to right field for a 6-0 advantage, as Lynchburg batted around to begin the ballgame.
The Hillcats added another run in the second on a sacrifice fly from Chu, plating Clement, who singled to begin the inning, to make it 7-0.
Clement went 5-for-5 in the ballgame, and has now reached base safely in every game he has played for the Hillcats this season. The five hits were a career-high.
In the third, Dillon Persinger belted his third home run of the season, a two-run blast, to further Lynchburg’s lead to 9-0.
Brooks connected with his second home run of the game in the ninth, a solo shot, marking the first multi-homer game of his career.
The five home runs by the Hillcats mark a season-high. With Monday’s win, Lynchburg clinches a winning road trip on a season-high nine-game swing.
Frederick’s only run came on an RBI single from Wilson Garcia in the sixth.
Eli Morgan (Win, 5-2) pitched six innings and allowed just one earned run on four hits, striking out four. Ben Krauth worked two scoreless innings and Anderson Polanco tossed a scoreless ninth.
Alvarado surrendered nine earned runs on 11 hits in four innings for the Keys.
The series concludes on Tuesday with the series finale, as the Hillcats go for the four-game sweep. Right-hander Zach Plesac (4-4, 5.28) will start for Lynchburg against Keys righty Mike Baumann (4-1, 3.55). First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Nymeo Field.
Max Gun and Matt Present will be on the air beginning at 6:50 p.m. with the Hillcats pregame show, on TuneIn Radio and Radio434.
The Hillcats return home on July 4 against the Wilmington Blue Rocks, for the start of a nine-game home stand. The game on July 4 will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the gates opening at a special time of 4 p.m. The Sandbar Band, a Jimmy Buffett cover band, will be live at City Stadium performing from 4 p.m. until approximately 6:15 p.m. After the game, fans will enjoy a special Independence Day fireworks show, presented by Kroger and Westover Dairy.
For tickets and more information visit lynchburg-hillcats.com, the City Stadium box office, or call 434-528-1144.
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Chris Graham
