Lynchburg loses lead twice, drops sixth straight

The Lynchburg Hillcats dropped a season-high sixth consecutive game on Thursday, losing to the Winston-Salem Dash, 5-3.

The Hillcats (12-14) were swept by the Dash (15-12) in what was the final regular-season meeting between the two teams.

With Lynchburg ahead 3-1 in the fifth inning, Dash outfielder Luis Basabe blasted a three-run, go-ahead home run off of Justin Garza (Loss, 2-1) to give Winston-Salem the 4-3 lead.

The Dash added a big run of insurance in the bottom of the eighth, when Micker Adolfo crushed a solo home run to center field, his sixth of the season, extending the lead to 5-3. It was his third homer of the year against Lynchburg.

The Hillcats grabbed an early lead in the first. Mitch Longo led off the game with a single to extend his hitting streak to 16 consecutive games. Later in the inning, Li-Jen Chu drove him home with an RBI single for a 1-0 Lynchburg advantage.

Winston tied the ballgame in the home half of the first. With two out, Adolfo ripped an RBI single to left field, scoring Basabe, who led off with a walk.

Lynchburg went ahead again with a run in the third inning and added another in the fourth. Chu hammered an RBI double to the left-center field gap to score Conner Capel, who singled a batter prior to make it 3-1 Hillcats.

In the fourth, Luke Wakamatsu scored on a double play ball, after he and Jose Medina led off the inning with back-to-back singles.

After tallying nine hits throughout the first four innings, Lynchburg went hitless over the final five frames.

Garza allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits in five innings of work. Ben Krauth pitched two scoreless innings and Dalbert Siri allowed the home run to Adolfo in the eighth.

Kyle Kubat made a spot start in place of Jimmy Lambert, who was unable to go due to an illness. Kubat pitched a season-high three innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits. Drew Hasler (Win, 1-0) logged three innings and surrendered one run on three hits. Mike Morrison (Save, 1) closed out the game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

The Hillcats head home for a brief three-game homestand to take on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Right-hander Micah Miniard (0-1, 4.73) will get the start for Lynchburg opposite of righty Alex Lange (1-0, 3.43) for Myrtle Beach. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at City Stadium.

Friday is Star Wars Night at the ballpark, featuring a Southpaw bobblehead giveaway to the first 1,000 fans.

Max Gun and Matt Present will be on the air 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.