The Lynchburg Hillcats (29-26) and Winston-Salem Dash (22-32) split the first two games of the four-game weekend series tonight. The ‘Cats won game one 6-4 in 11 innings, but lost game two 4-1 snapping their season-best six game winning streak.
Game one was suspended in the middle of the 10th inning last night tied 4-4. It resumed tonight with the Dash coming to bat. Matt Chaffee retired the side in order in the 10th for Lynchburg. In the 11th, Jose Peraza drove in the go-ahead run with a single through the left side of the infield. Tyler Tewell, who had scored the tying run in the ninth that forced extras the night before, scored what would be the game-winning run. Peraza scored as well on a single from Josh Elander.
Chaffee started the bottom of the 11th with the Hillcats up 6-4. He retired the first two batters before Ryan Kelly was called out of the bullpen to face Courtney Hawkins. Kelly induced a pop-up to the shortstop off the bat of Hawkins to end the game. Chaffee (1-2) earned the win and Kelly got his third save in three opportunities.
The Dash took the initial lead in game two and never trailed. They loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning. Keon Barnum drove in one run with a slow groundout to third base. Hillcats starter Jarett Miller limited the damage stranding the other two runners.
Miller (2-5) was pitching out of trouble most of the night giving up 11 hits over 5.1 innings. He allowed four earned runs and suffered the loss.
The Hillcats tied the score with their only run in the fourth inning. Levi Hyams hit his second double of the game. Tewell drove him in with a sac fly two batters later. It was the 32nd sac fly for the Hillcats this season, which currently leads all Minor and Major League Baseball teams.
Lynchburg behind again in the bottom of the fourth when Tim Anderson drove in a run with a triple and then scored on a Joey DeMichele single. Anderson went 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. He was finally retired in the eighth inning on a groundout to shortstop.
Jason Coats hit a solo shot in the fifth inning, his second in as many games and seventh of the season. The Dash led 4-1 and that would be the final.
Zach Jadofsky relieved Miller and pitched the final 2.2 innings scoreless. Tony Bucciferro (4-5) gave up just the one run on seven hits over seven innings for the Dash and earned the win. Brad Goldberg got the save with a scoreless ninth, his first of the season.
The Hillcats remain in first place heading into game three Sunday afternoon at 2pm. Right-hander Wes Parsons (3-2, 3.86) will start for Lynchburg against righty Frank Montas (3-0, 1.50) for the Dash. The Hillcats On-Deck Show presented by Amtrak Virginia will go on the air at 1:40pm. Erik Wilson will have the call on 97.9 The Planet.
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Chris Graham
