Lynchburg scored a season-high 16 runs en route to a 16-11 series-clinching victory over Wilmington in 10 innings. Bobby Bradley launched his Carolina League-leading 13th home run of the season to knot up the ballgame at 10 runs apiece in the top of the ninth inning. The Hillcats exploded for six runs in the top of the 10th, including a home run from Yu-Cheng Chang.
The Hillcats came from behind on two separate occasions. They trailed 3-1 after the first inning to lead 6-4 after two. They fell behind again by three runs after six. With two runs in the seventh thanks to a two-run homer from Sicnarf Loopstok, his first of the season, the ‘Cats clawed to within one run. With one out in the top of the ninth Bradley stepped up to the plate and crushed a 3-2 pitch over the centerfield fence to tie the game. Lynchburg continued the barrage in the 10th with six more runs. Claudio Bautista drove in the go-ahead run to center field to score Juan De La Cruz, who led off the inning with a walk. Anthony Santander followed that up with a two-run double and came around to score himself on a Bradley double. The onslaught continued as Chang cranked his seventh round-tripper of the season over the left-field fence.
For the third straight game Hillcats manager Mark Budzinski was forced to make a late adjustment to his lineup card. David Armendariz fell ill prior to first pitch. On Thursday Mark Mathias was struck by a line drive in batting practice and scratched from the lineup. Wednesday night, starting pitcher Sean Brady was a late scratch after dealing with a stomach bug.
Lynchburg tied a season-high by slugging four home runs on the night. Bautista put the Hillcats on the board with a solo home run in the top of the first inning. Loopstok left the ballpark for the first time all year, Bradley’s 13th of the season tied the game in the ninth, and Chang’s seventh extended the lead in the 10th.
Cameron Hill improved to 3-0 on the season with two scoreless innings of relief…It was the seventh consecutive scoreless relief appearance for the Oklahoma native…Lynchburg now has 52 home runs through 54 games…34 of of those 52 homers have been on the road.
Lynchburg is on the road again Saturday for a date with the Salem Red Sox. Nick Pasquale (1-1, 2.35) will take the ball for the Hillcats while Salem will counter with Daniel McGrath (1-1, 5.50). Pasquale is coming off his first loss of the season in his last outing. Fans can listen to the action on 93.3 FM and 1320 AM as well as www.lynchburg-hillcats.com, beginning with the Hillcats On-Deck Show at 5:45 p.m.
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