The Lynchburg Hillcats snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Winston-Salem Dash tonight. Navery Moore earned his first win of the season giving up two runs, one earned in five innings of work. Robby Hefflinger extended his current hitting streak to four games, leading the Hillcats offense with two hits, an RBI, and a run scored.
Lynchburg scored first for just the sixth time this season in the top of the first inning. Hefflinger singled home William Beckwith with two outs. Beckwith drew a walk and stole second, his fourth of the season, before jogging home on the Hefflinger line drive to center field.
The Dash tied the game in the bottom of the first. Moore walked his first batter. Then a groundball to second base was bobbled by Ross Heffley putting runners at first and second. After a fielder’s choice at second base, Kevan Smith came up with runners at first and third. He singled home the leadoff man, Joe De Pinto. Moore retired the next two batters and the run went unearned.
After the Hillcats went scoreless in the second, Winston-Salem took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Mark Tracy, son of former major league manager Jim Tracy, hit a solo home run. It was his first home run and RBI of the season. The Dash led 2-1.
In the top of the third, the Hillcats took the lead right back. Hefflinger began a string of three straight two out hits. Kyle Kubitza doubled home Hefflinger from first base. Then, David Rohm singled in Kubitza. The ‘Cats led 3-2.
Neither team would score another run, as both clubs only managed three more hits apiece the rest of the way.
Moore (1-2) got his first victory in his fourth start. He walked four and struck out two while giving up the two early runs on three hits. James Hoyt followed him with three scoreless innings, allowing one hit, walking two, and striking out four. Hoyt has now thrown 12.1 consecutive scoreless innings of relief. Nate Hyatt came on for the ninth. He gave up one hit, and struck out one on his way to his third save of the season.
Bryan Blough (0-3) started for the Dash and took the loss. He gave up three runs on six hits, walked one, and struck out six.
The Hillcats are now 8-8 with the win, while the Dash fell to 9-8.
Game two of the four game series will start tomorrow at 7pm at BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem. RHP A.J.Holland (1-0, 3.68) will take the mound for Lynchburg against RHP Chris Bassitt (1-0, 2.65) for the Dash. The Hillcats On-Deck Show powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg will go on the air at 6:40pm. Tune in for all the play-by-play action with Erik Wilson on 97.9 FM The Planet and online at lynchburg-hillcats.com
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Chris Graham
