The Hillcats never led until the final inning Tuesday night.Tied 4-4 heading into the 11th, Lynchburg doubled their total withfour more runs. Joe Leonard delivered the go-ahead blow with a two-runground-rule double. The Hillcats went on to win 8-4.
The Pelicans started the scoring in the bottom of the first.Ryan Strausborger doubled to lead off the inning. Two batters later, JaredPrince drove him home with a sacrifice fly to center field. Myrtle Beach led1-0.
Lynchburg tied the game with three straight two-out singlesin the top of the second frame. Shawn McGill eventually scored on a GeraldoRodriguez single. The tie would be short lived as the Pelicans retook the leadin the bottom of the inning. Santiago Chirino singled home Jared Hoying puttingMyrtle Beach back up by one, 2-1.
Two more runs scored for the home team. One in the fourth ona Travis Adair RBI single, and another in the fifth when Vinny DiFazio hit asacrifice fly to center field.
The ‘Cats battled back with two runs in the sixth inning.McGill started the inning with a single. After Lemon walked, Rodriguez camethrough again with his second RBI single of the night. Two batters later,Keenan Wiley brought home Lemon with his second base hit of the night. TheHillcats still trailed 4-3.
That score held until the ninth inning. Andrelton Simmonsled off the inning with a single up the middle. He advanced to second base on awild pitch out. Todd Cunninghamthen grounded out to shortstop, moving Simmons to third. Joe Leonard hit asacrifice fly to center field and the game was tied 4-4.
Lynchburg nearly gave away the game in the bottom of theninth. RHP Jeremy Haynes retired the first batter but then walked the next two.LHP Ryan Buchter then came in form the bullpen. He struck out his first batterbefore walking Andrew Clark to load the bases with two outs. Mike Olt came upnext. He worked the count two and two before hitting a line shot to the rightside. Rodriguez dove to his right at first base to make the catch and save thegame for the Hillcats.
The game headed to extras tied 4-4. It stayed that way untilthe 11th inning.
RHP Ryan Rodebaugh entered the game for the Pelicans.Barrett Kleinknecht shot his first hit of the night into center field. Wileyfollowed with a walk, while trying to put down a sacrifice bunt. An errantpick-off attempt to second base went into center field while Simmons was at theplate and both runners advanced. Simmons then popped up to first base.Cunningham was then intentionally walked to load the bases for Leonard. Leonard’sground-rule double brought home two. Christian Bethancourt singled in a pairafter that. The Hillcats went up 8-4.
Buchter (2-5) held the Pelicans scoreless in the 11thand earned his second win of the season. Rodebaugh (1-1) took the loss.
The Hillcats improved to 26-31 with the win, while thePelicans fell to 27-30 with the loss.
The two teams meet again tomorrow night at 7:05 pm. LHPChrist Masters (9-6) will start for Lynchburg against RHP Kennil Gomez (4-2)for Myrtle Beach. Listen live to all the action starting with the HillcatsOn-Deck Show powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg on 105.5 KD Country andonline at lynchburg-hillcats.com
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