The Lynchburg Hillcats suffered their first blown save of the season tonight, and lost for the first time when leading after seven innings. The Potomac Nationals walked off in the bottom of the ninth with a 5-4 win courtesy of an RBI-double for Caleb Ramsey. The loss dropped the Hillcats (29-24) into second place, while the Nationals (30-24) jumped into first.
The Nationals took the early lead for the second straight night in the first inning. Ryan Weber walked the leadoff man Billy Burns. MLB rehabber Jayson Werth then singled. After a groundout, and a walk, the bases were loaded for Adrian Nieto. The switch hitting catcher singled in Burns, but Werth was held up at third. Kevin Keyes then grounded into a fielder’s choice at the plate, and Cutter Dykstra struck out to end the inning.
Lynchburg took their first lead in the third inning. Elmer Reyes and Matt Weaver singled to put runners at first and second. Matt Lipka sacrificed them to second and third. Ross Heffley tied game with a sac fly to right field. Then, William Beckwith doubled down the left field line to plate Weaver. The ‘Cats led 2-1.
Potomac tied the game back up in the bottom of the third. Adrian Nieto delivered an RBI-single.
Both starters pitched through the fifth inning. The score stayed tied 2-2 as both starters exited in the sixth. Ryan Weber for Lynchburg gave up two earned runs on five hits while walking three and striking out three. Sammy Solis gave up six hits, walked no one and struck out one. His two runs were earned as well.
In the bottom of the sixth, an error led to the Nationals regaining the lead. Nieto tapped a ball in front of home plate. Shawn McGill removed his mask, picked up the ball and threw wildly to first base. The next batter, Kevin Keyes, doubled Nieto home. Potomac led 3-2.
The Hillcats benefited from errors in the top of the seventh. David Fischer walked the first two batters of the frame. Reyes then put down a successful sacrifice bunt. Weaver came up next. He hit a soft ground ball to the mound. Fischer fielded cleanly but threw high to the plate trying to cut down the lead runner. Two runs scored on the error, and the ‘Cats led 4-3.
Ryan Woolley came out for his third inning of relief in the eighth. He walked Michael Taylor to start the inning. He then struck out Jason Martinson and Nieto. In the meantime, Taylor stole second base. Nate Hyatt was then called out of the bullpen to face Keyes. Hyatt gave up a single to Keyes, scoring Taylor and tying the game at 4-4. It was the first blown save by a Hillcats reliever this season. They are the last team in the Carolina League to blow a save this season.
The game remained tied 4-4 going into the bottom of the ninth. Hyatt remained in the game. He induced a groundout to shortstop before walking a batter and giving up a single. Runners were at first and second for Ramsey with one out. Ramsey did not start the ball game. He came in for Werth, who left his rehab start after the fifth inning. Ramsey ended up playing the hero with a walk-off RBI-double that hit the wall in right field.
Derek Self (4-2) tossed a scoreless ninth inning and earned the win for Potomac. Hyatt (1-1) suffered his first loss of the season giving up one run on three hits in two-thirds of an inning.
The Hillcats will try to avoid the sweep tomorrow afternoon in Woodbridge. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05pm. The Hillcats will throw RHP Greg Ross (2-1, 2.79) against RHP A.J. Cole (1-2, 4.75). Erik Wilson will have the call starting at 1:40pm with the Hillcats On-Deck Show powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg on 97.9 FM The Planet and online at lynchburg-hillcats.com
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Chris Graham
