Hillcats starter Aaron Shafer went deeper into the game than he had gone all season long, allowing just one run through seven and two-thirds innings. The Hillcats bullpen surrendered three runs in the final inning and a third but kept the Nationals at bay for a 5-4 win.
The Hillcats took the early lead thanks to a long ball in the third inning. Marcus Lemon launched his first home run as a Hillcat to lead off the frame, and the ‘Cats led 1-0. Barrett Kleinknecht added an RBI sacrifice fly in the sixth.
Lynchburg broke the game open in the seventh. Up 2-0 Joey Terdoslavich came up with the bases loaded and two out. Terdoslavich cleared the bases with a double down the left field line and the Hillcats went up 5-0.
All the while, Shafer was dealing on the mound for the ‘Cats. He surrendered just four hits through seven and two-thirds innings. He eventually left the ball game with a runner at first and two outs in the eighth. RHP Mark Lamm entered and gave up back-to-back RBI hits but got out of the inning with the lead in tact 5-2.
Things got interesting in the ninth. LHP Ryan Buchter entered for his eighth save opportunity of the season. He was a perfect seven for seven coming into the game. Buchter struck out two but allowed the Nationals to load the bases. Two infield singles plated two runs and brought Potomac within one. Bearing down with winning run at second, Buchter struck out Jeff Kobernus, fanning the side the hard way and completing the save.
Shafer (3-2) earned the win, while Paul Demny (6-8) suffered the loss for Potomac.
The Hillcats improved to 7-15 in the second half but still sit six games back of the first place Nationals at 14-9.
The series continues tomorrow at 7:05 pm at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, VA. LHP Chris Masters (5-4) takes the mound for the Hillcats against RHP Cameron Selik (2-6) for the Nationals. Listen live to all the action starting with the Hillcats On-Deck Show at 6:40 pm on 105.5 KD Country and online at lynchburg-hillcats.com.
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Chris Graham
