For the first time in nearly two months, the Hillcats had to go to extra innings to decide a game. Extra were unkind, as a solo home run in the bottom of the tenth sent Lynchburg to a 4-3 loss Wednesday night.
For the second straight night, the Hillcats jumped out in front over the Indians. Christian Bethancourt hit a one-out single. After a popout, Marcus Lemon dropped a bunt down the third base line. Lemon beat out the bunt to first, and Bethancourt advanced to second. On a 3-2 pitch and the runners going, L.V. Ware laced a single to left field that scored Bethancourt to put the Hillcats up 1-0.
The Indians took the lead in the top of the fourth. Jesus Aguilar led off with a single, and Jeremie Tice was hit by a breaking pitch that got away from David Hale. Tyler Cannon dropped a bunt straight back to David Hale. Hale wheeled towards third to try to get the lead runner, but threw the ball over third baseman Joe Leonard’s head. Aguilar scored, Tice reached third and Cannon got to second on the play. Tice scored on a sacrifice fly by Casey Frawley, and later in the inning Cannon scored on a wild pitch by Hale to make it 3-1.
Geraldo Rodriguez tied the game in the bottom of the inning. With one out and Joe Leonard on first, Rodriguez launched a fastball over the right-center field wall for his eighth home run of the season with Lynchburg to tie the game at three.
Both teams squandered chances over the next several innings. The Hillcats had a chance to win in the bottom of the ninth, with Marcus Lemon on second and one out. Todd Cunningham hit a grounder to the hole between third and short, but third baseman Justin Toole stretched out, stopped the ball, and threw a strike to first to retire Cunningham. The Indians intentionally walked Andrelton Simmons, and Phil Gosselin grounded out to third to end the inning.
One extra inning was all Kinston needed to win the game. With one out, Jesus Aguilar hit a fly ball to dead center field that hit the batter’s eye for his first home run with Kinston. Preston Guilmet came into the game in the bottom of the tenth and held the Hillcats scoreless to preserve the 4-3 Indians win.
Jose Flores (4-3) pitched the ninth inning to earn the win for Kinston. Ryan Buchter (1-5) pitched the tenth and gave up the game-winning home run to take the loss.
The Hillcats failed to win their fourth straight game to fall to 19-26, but did win their fourth straight series. Kinston improved to 23-21.
The Hillcats start a seven-day road trip on Thursday. Their first stop will be to Wilmington, where they play four games against the Blue Rocks. The first game will have lefty Dimasther Delgado (7-6) pitch against righty Elisaul Pimentel (5-6). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.
The Hillcats On-Deck Show presented by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg will go on the air at 6:40 pm. Tune in to 105.5 KD Country or go to lynchburg-hillcats.com to listen live to all the action.
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Chris Graham
