The Lynchburg Hillcats were held scoreless until the seventh inning as they lost 12-3 to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans tonight. Matt Lipka broke up the shutout with a two-run homer in the seventh inning. The Hillcats offense racked up 11 hits, but went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position. The loss completed a three-game sweep for the Pelicans over the Hillcats this week.
The Pelicans started the scoring in the first inning. Trever Adams drove in Jake Skole as he reached on fielder’s choice. Myrtle Beach added four more runs in the third frame. They sent eight batters to the plate with four hits and two walks. The rally was highlighted by a two-run triple for Roughned Odor.
Hillcats starter James didn’t make it out of the fourth inning. He gave up a single, struck out a batter, and walked Skole for the third time before Caleb Brewer was brought in from the bullpen. Brewer allowed both inherited runners to score as well as run of his own. The Pelicans led 8-0.
Down 10-0 going into the seventh inning, Lipka finally put the ‘Cats on the scoreboard. He blasted his third home run of the season over the left field wall. The round-tripper set a new career high for a single season for Lipka who came into the year with just four career long balls. It was a two run shot to break up the shutout. Robby Hefflinger added an RBI-single scoring Ross Heffley later in the inning. The Hillcats trailed 10-3.
Myrtle Beach added two more runs in the eighth inning to reach the ultimate score of 12-3.
Ryan Weber made his return from the disabled list tonight on the mound in relief for the Hillcats. He tossed a scoreless seventh inning, giving up a single and inducing three groundouts.
The Hillcats are now 16-15 dropping their last three games. The Pelicans became the first team to 20 wins in the Carolina League this season, now 20-13.
Luke Jackson (4-1) earned the win for the Pelicans tossing five scoreless innings. Hoyt (2-1) took the loss, giving up seven earned runs in 3.2 innings for Lynchburg.
The Hillcats travel to Zebulon, NC next for a four-game series against the Carolina Mudcats. The opener is set for tomorrownight at 7:15pm. RHP A.J. Holland (2-1, 3.24) will start for the Hillcats against RHP Jacob Lee (0-2, 5.13) for the Mudcats. Listen live to all the action starting with the Hillcats On-Deck Show powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg starting at6:50pm on 97.9 FM The Planet and online at lynchburg-hillcats.com
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Chris Graham
