The Lynchburg Hillcats dropped the series-opener against the Salem Red Sox on Thursday, losing 6-1, and came within one strike of being no-hit in the ballgame.
With two outs in the ninth, Tre’ Gantt reached on the Hillcats eighth walk of the game, and then advanced to second on defensive indifference. Down to his final strike, Luke Wakamatsu then slapped a single the opposite way to break up both the no-hitter and the shutout.
The loss marks the Hillcats (27-37) seventh consecutive defeat, and the first time they were knocked off by Salem (31-34) this season.
The Red Sox opened the scoring with a run in the first inning. Tyler Hill led off the game with a double, and after advancing to third base on a fly out, he scored on a wild pitch for an early 1-0 lead.
In the fourth, Salem tagged Zach Plesac (Loss, 4-3) for four consecutive hits to start the inning. Santiago Espinal led off the frame with a single, and advanced to third on a stolen base and an error by Hillcats catcher Li-Jen Chu. A batter later, Roldani Baldwin plated Espinal with an RBI single. After Bobby Dalbec doubled, Jerry Downs connected with a two-run single to score Baldwin and Dalbec, pushing Salem’s lead to 4-0.
The Red Sox scored two more runs off of Plesac in the fifth, this time stringing together three straight hits to open the inning. Jordan Procyshen led off with a triple and scored on an RBI single from Hill. Brett Netzer followed with an RBI double to score Hill and extend the lead to 6-0.
Lynchburg twice loaded the bases with three walks, but were unable to capitalize on either opportunity. The first came in the fifth inning, when starter Tanner Houck (Win, 3-7) loaded the bases, but Wakamatsu hit into a force out to end the inning.
In the seventh, the Hillcats again had the bases full, this time with one out against reliever Joan Martinez (Save, 2), but Jorma Rodriguez bounced into an inning-ending double play to squash the rally.
Plesac pitched five innings, and allowed six earned runs on nine hits. He matched a career-high with eight strikeouts. Anderson Polanco worked three scoreless innings and James Karinchak tossed a scoreless ninth.
Houck tossed six hitless innings, giving up four walks and striking out three. He retired the first 11 batters he faced in the ballgame.
The Hillcats and Red Sox will continue their series on Friday. Right-hander Justin Garza (2-4, 4.25) will get the start for Lynchburg against Red Sox lefty Darwinzon Hernandez (3-3, 4.98). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at City Stadium.
It’s Fantastic Friday at the ballpark, where the first 1,000 fans will receive a pair of Hillcats sunglasses, courtesy of High Peak Sportswear.
Max Gun and Matt Present will bring you the action beginning at 6:20 p.m. on TuneIn Radio and the Radio434 App.
For tickets or more information, visit lynchburg-hillcats.com, call 434-528-1144. or stop by the City Stadium box office.
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Chris Graham
