The Hillcats didn’t let the Dylan Bundy ora scare them as they tagged the rookie phenom for four runs in three and two-thirds innings. Braeden Schlehuber highlighted the 5-3 victory over Frederick with his eighth bomb of the season. Aaron Northcraft would get his second consecutive win to improve to 6-4 on the season.
Much to every one’s surprise, Bundy is human. The highly-touted prospect struggled to end innings and put away batters. Matt Lipka continued to rake with a hit to start the top of the first. After two outs and a Adam Milligan walk, Edward Salcedo singled off Bundy with two strikes to score Lipka.
Aaron Northcraft allowed a run in the bottom half of the first. Johnny Ruettiger got the offense started with a lead-off double. He would move to third on a Jeremy Nowak ground out and score on a Ty Kelly ground out. After the first, the score was 1-1.
Bundy was effective in the top of the second, but the top of the third would prove to be troublesome. Lipka was the catalyst yet again. He walked to start the inning and was on the move when Nick Ahmed ripped a double to left. The ‘Cats would add to their 2-1 lead when Tommy La Stella singled to score Ahmed. It was the first time an offense had scored three off Bundy in his brief career.
The Keys would cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third. A walk to Joe Oliveira started the inning and he moved to second on a hit-and-run that Garabez Rosa was retired at first on. He eventually would score on a two-out single off Nowak’s bat to cut the lead to 3-2.
In the top of the fourth, Bundy recorded the first two outs of the inning, but fell behind to Braeden Schlehuber. On a 3-1 count, Bundy’s fastball was hit high and deep to left, Bobby Stevens would make an attempt to rob Schlehuber, but wasn’t close. The homer was Schlehuber’s eighth of the season. At 4-2 and a pitch count in the 80s, Bundy was pulled. Brandon Erbe entered to the game to face Lipka. Again, Lipka walked to get himself on base. Ahmed was at the plate when Erbe threw a pitch that bounced in front of plate and skipped to the right of the catcher Oliveira. Lipka broke for second and Oliveira intended to throw down to second base. However, the ball drilled Erbe in the pitching arm. Erbe couldn’t continue and exited the game. No further damage was done after Ryan Berry entered the game.
Lynchburg would score their final run in the top of the fifth. A single by Milligan got the inning started. Then, Salcedo laid down a bunt that stung his hands and stayed frozen in the box, Oliveira tried to start the double play, but over threw Rosa covering second and Milligan reached third and Salcedo was safe at first. Chris Garcia would ground into the 4-6-3 double play, but Milligan scored to make it a 5-2 game.
The final run of the game would be scored by the Keys in the bottom of the fifth. Michael Mosby slapped a double down the left field line to start the inning. A slow roller was hit by Oliveira just around the pitcher’s mound and Northcraft tried to field it. In Northcraft’s hast, he threw the ball past Garcia at first and Mosby scampered home to make it 5-3.
Northcraft (6-4) got the win to improve his road record to 4-1 on the season. Northcraft went six solid innings, allowing five hits that led to three runs; two were earned. He walked three and fanned five. Bundy (2-2) put the loss on his stat sheet in his worst outing as a pro. Bundy went three and two-thirds, surrendered five hits that led to four runs. He got five ‘Cats to whiff and walked two. Bundy also allowed a homer to Schlehuber. Juan Jamie earned his 12th save of the season with a perfect ninth inning.
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Chris Graham
