Lynchburg dropped Game 4 of the Mills Cup Championship Series at City Stadium, 5-3, giving Myrtle Beach Pelicans the Mills Cup for the second consecutive season.
The Pelicans scored three runs in the seventh frame to take the lead and win the championship.
The Hillcats scored a run in the first inning but squandered a chance for a big scoring output. Tyler Krieger led off with a single and scored on a Francisco Mejia double to make the count 1-0. Yu-Cheng Chang singled, and Anthony Santander was hit by a pitch to load the bases. However, the runners were stranded after a strikeout and a double play.
Myrtle Beach tallied its first two runs of the contest in the third frame. Eloy Jimenez drove in Charcer Burks with a single to tie the game. A fielding error allowed another run, and the Pelicans took a 2-1 lead. The ‘Cats answered with two runs to recapture the lead. Mejia crushed a two-run homer over the right-center field fence to put the ‘Cats back on top, 3-2. Both teams were held quiet until the three-run seventh for the Pelicans. Eight men came to the plate in the inning, and three singles were mixed with a few walks to give the Pelicans an insurmountable lead.
Matt Esparza turned in 4 2/3 innings for Lynchburg to start the contest. He struck out six batters while surrendering four hits and an earned run. Mitch Brown was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs as part of the seventh stanza. Trevor Frank was the last out of the bullpen and kept the Hillcats within striking distance. The righty tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out two batters.
Lynchburg is now 63-65 in all-time postseason play…The Hillcats are 13-12 in Mills Cup Championship games…Lynchburg has won four of its seven Mills Cup Championships it has participated in.
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Chris Graham
