Mudcats salvage finale at Lynchburg

The Hillcats weren’t able to complete the sweep at home against the Carolina Mudcats. After Braeden Schlehuber tied the game with his seventh homer of the season, the Mudcats would score five unanswered runs to earn the 7-2 victory at Calvin Falwell Field.

After an eight-run outburst in game two of the doubleheader last night, the Hillcats looked poised to continue their hot ways. In the bottom of the first, the Hillcats collected three hits off Danny Salazar with Edward Salcedo’s double scoring Matt Lipka from third base to give the ‘Cats a 1-0 lead.

Carolina would answer back in the top half of the second in a loud way. With Ronny Rodriguez at first, Anthony Gallas blasted his fifth homer of the season to give the Mudcats a 2-1 lead.

Braeden Schlehuber would destroy a pitch of his own off new pitcher, Kyle Blair. It was the bottom of the fourth when Schlehuber improved on his career-high in long balls with his seventh of the season. The game was tied at 2-2.

Masters would retire 10 of 12 through two outs in the top of the sixth, but that’s when he began to struggle mightily. Jeremie Tice got in on the action with a solo shot to break the tie. A walk to Jesus Aguilar would end Masters’ day. Ian Marshall would enter and the results weren’t much better. A double and a two-RBI single by Gallas expanded the Mudcats lead to 5-2.

Carolina kept their foot on the gas in the top of the seventh. Delvi Cid would start the inning off with a single, then he stole second and reached third on a Schlehuber throwing error. Tony Wolters ripped a double down the right field line to score Cid. Run number seven would be registered just one batter later when Giovanny Urshela singled to score the speedy Wolters. The lead was now 7-2.

Blair cruised through the eighth before turning the reins over to Shawn Armstrong. The five-run lead was plenty of cushion for Armstrong and he would quickly shut down the Hillcats offense to avoid the sweep.

For his efforts, Blair (5-1), got the win after taking over for Salazar. Blair went five strong innings and allowed just the one run on Schlehuber’s solo home run. Blair also fanned three ,walked one and surrendered just two hits. Masters (0-2) dropped his second straight as a Hillcat. He went five and two-thirds innings, gave up four runs on four hits, walked three and allowed two homers. Master did tie a season-high with six strikeouts.