The Lynchburg Hillcats watched their opponents celebrate at home plate for the second straight game as the Federick Keys, like the Carolina Mudcats on Sunday, walked off with a victory.
The Keys beat the Hillcats 3-2 with the help of two 12th inning errors. The loss was the ‘Cats first at Harry Grove Stadium this season, where they are now 7-1. Lynchburg fell to two games under .500, but are still just a half game out of first place.
Dan Brewer broke the 0-0 tie in the top of the third inning with a two-run homer putting the HIllcats up 2-0. It was Brewer’s second home run in his first 16 games as a Hillcat. He finished the night 3-for-5 and is currently on a five-game hitting streak.
The Keys tied the ball game in the fifth inning.Garabez Rosa led off the inning with a double. After a strikeout, Trent Mummey drew a walk. With runners at first and second, Tyler Townsend laced a two run double to the gap, evening the score 2-2.
The bullpens took over from there. RHP Juan Jamie threw a season-high three and two-thirds innings for the Hillcats. He got the final two outs of the seventh an completed the tenth. He gave up just two hits intentionally walked two, and struck out a season-high seven.
The Keys’ bullpen combined for six scoreless innings, after the starter, LHP Matt Bywater gave up two throw the first six frames
In extras, RHP Andrew Wilson tossed a perfect 11th inning before coming back for the 12th. He induced a fly out to the first batter. Then Michael Flacco grounded to the third baseman Edward Salcedo. Salcedo threw the ball away at first base and Flacco was safe at first. LHP Matt Chaffee was then brought in to face the lefty swinging Townsend. Chaffee struck out Townsend. With two outs and Flacco still at first, Jeremy Nowak stepped up. Nowak singled to center field, and Flacco raced around second base. While he was on his way to third, center fielder Mycal Jones had the ball kick off his arm and Flacco sprinted home to score the game-winning run.
Wilson (1-2) was charged with the loss, giving up one unearned run in an inning and one-third. The run snapped a 20-inning scoreless streak for Wilson as a Hillcat, going back to May 25. RHP Ryan Berry (2-4) earned the win for Frederick. He completed two scoreless innings in the 11th and 12th.
The Hillcats are now 21-23 in the second half, currently just one-half game out of first place.
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Chris Graham
