A five-run, three-home run first inning gave the Lynchburg Hillcats high hopes on Tuesday night, but they produced just one hit after that and dropped game one of three to Frederick, 6-5.
Frederick led 2-0 after the first half inning on the strength of three hits. Tucker Nathans led off with a single, followed by a double by Jeff Kemp. Drew Dosch knocked the first run in with a ground out and Trey Mancini doubled the damage with an RBI single.
The Hillcats didn’t trail for long, as they scored four in the bottom of the first with five hits and three home runs on a warm, breezy evening at City Stadium. Luigi Rodriguez led off with a walk that set up Clint Frazier’s game-tying home run. The next man, Bradley Zimmer, singled and Paul Hendrix gave the Hillcats a two-run lead with an opposite field homer to right. Joe Sever followed with the third home run of the inning, going back-to-back. It’s the second time Sever has gone back-to-back this year and the Hillcats led 5-2.
Nathans pulled the Keys back within two with a lead-off home run in the third. They tied it later in the inning with RBI singles from Dosch andAdrian Marin.
Kemp gave the Keys a 6-5 lead with his third double of the evening, scoring Nathans.
Lynchburg only mustered up one hit after the first inning, it came in the ninth from Mike Papi and the Hillcats dropped game one 6-5.
The ‘Cats are back in action on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. at City Stadium. It’s another Win-Win Wednesday presented by WIQO. Fans will receive a ticket to the next Wednesday home game with the purchase of their ticket. Fans that can’t make it out to the ballpark can listen to the action on ESPN Radio Virginia 93.3 FM and 1320 AM. The Hillcats On-Deck Show begins at 6:10 p.m.