Lynchburg Hillcats win in extras

With two outs in the top of the tenth inning, Gavin Collins delivered an RBI single to break a 1-1 tie, sending the Lynchburg Hillcats to a 2-1 win over the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Tuesday.

With the win, Lynchburg (59-58, 30-20) overtakes Wilmington (60-59, 29-20) for first place in the Carolina League North Division by .5 game.

In the bottom of the tenth, Nick Sandlin (Save, 2) stranded the tying and winning runs on the bases to preserve the win. With inherited runner Angelo Castellano reaching third base on a wild pitch with nobody out, Sandlin was able to get Blake Perkins to ground out, Rudy Martin to fly out to shallow left field before striking out Emmanuel Rivera to end the game.

Rivera gave the Blue Rocks a 1-0 lead in the first inning when he connected with a two-out RBI triple off of Zach Plesac.

In the fourth, Lynchburg evened the score at 1-1. Nolan Jones walked with one out, and scored on a Jorma Rodriguez RBI double.

Plesac worked five innings, allowing just one run on four hits. He matched a career high with five walks and struck out eight. Leandro Linares worked a scoreless sixth inning, while Kyle Nelson went the next 1.1 innings and struck out two. Nick Pasquale (Win, 1-0) worked 1.2 scoreless frames and fanned three.

Overall, the bullpen combined for five scoreless innings, striking out seven.

Lynchburg improves to 4-8 in extra-inning games and 20-19 in one-run contests. The game got underway after a delay of 1:16 due to rain.

Gerson Garabito started for Wilmington and allowed one run on two hits in six innings. Carter Hope worked two scoreless innings and Tyler Zuber (Loss, 1-2) allowed the winning run in the tenth.

The two teams are back in action tomorrow in the middle game of the three-game set. Left-hander Sam Hentges (5-6, 3.46) will start for Lynchburg, against lefty Daniel Tillo (2-2, 4.44) of Wilmington. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

Max Gun will be on the air beginning at 6:25 p.m. on TuneIn Radio and Radio434.

Lynchburg returns to City Stadium for a weekend series against the Frederick Keys, beginning on August 17. It will be Mario Kart Night, featuring a Triston McKenzie bobblehead giveaway to the first 1,000 fans.

For tickets and more information visit lynchburg-hillcats.com, the City Stadium box office, or call 434-528-1144.