Lynchburg slugged two more home runs and tallied three runs in back-to-back innings to defeat Wilmington at City Stadium, 8-3. Taylor Murphy went 2-4 with a home run and three RBIs while Bobby Bradley hit his Carolina League-leading 29th homer.
The Hillcats struck first in the contest with a solo home run off the bat of Taylor Murphy in the second frame. Wilmington answered with a run of its own in the top of the third. Lynchburg took the lead back in the bottom of the stanza. Yonathan Mendoza and Mark Mathias began the frame with walks, and Mendoza advanced to third on a wild pitch. Anthony Santanderproceeded to hit a deep sacrifice fly, which scored Mendoza before Mathias was doubled off first base.
The Blue Rocks scored two more runs in the top of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. Bobby Bradley knotted the score with a solo roundtripper to lead off the fourth. After a walk to Tyler Krieger, Dorssys Paulino hit a double to right field to plate Kriegerbefore being thrown out at third. Sicnarf Loopstok singled to set up Mendoza for an RBI double to give the ‘Cats a 5-3 advantage.
Three more Hillcats crossed the plate in the fifth to put the game out of reach. Santander and Bradley reached base with a single and walk, respectively. Krieger followed the duo up with a walk to load the bases. With two outs in the frame Murphy hit a line drive single to score two runs. Loopstok added the final run of the game with a swinging bunt single.
In his first home start, Brock Hartson improved his record to 2-1 after pitching five innings. The righty allowed two earned runs while striking out four Blue Rocks batters. Matt Whitehouse was the first reliever into the game. He threw two scoreless frames and struck out five in the process. David Speer and Trevor Frank each tossed a no-hit inning to seal the deal. Frank struck out a pair as part of a perfect ninth.
With the two home runs tonight, the Hillcats are on pace for 135 home runs, which would break the team record of 131 set in 2002…Bobby Bradley tied Aramis Ramirez for the most home runs in a single season during the Hillcats era…Ramirez also hit 29 in 1997…Bradley is chasing Ramirez’s RBI record as well…Ramirez had 114 in 1997, and Bradley currently stands at 101…The ‘Cats now sit atop the second-half Northern Division standings, holding a one-game lead with 11 regular-season games remaining.
Lynchburg wraps up the season series against Wilmington at Calvin Falwell Field Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Thomas Pannone (2-0, 2.49) will be on the mound for the Hillcats. Fans can listen to the action on 93.3 FM and 1320 AM as well as www.lynchburg-hillcats.com, beginning with the Hillcats On-Deck Show at 6:15 p.m.
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Chris Graham
