Mike Papi hit his third home run of the weekend, and Lynchburg used 13 hits to steadily build its lead throughout the day to an 8-1 final score that completed a four-game sweep of the Frederick Keys at Nymeo Field Sunday afternoon.
Lynchburg used a three-run second inning to jump in front and never looked back the rest of the day in completing its first four-game sweep at Nymeo Field since June 14-17, 2012. Anthony Santander began the stanza with a double down the third-base line, and Yu-Cheng Chang walked. Papi smacked an RBI double to right field to bring home the first run of the game. AfterChang scored on a wild pitch, Daniel Salters lined a single to right to push the score to 3-0 after two innings.
The Hillcats were far from done after the second inning. Lynchburg added another in the third on a two-out single by Taylor Murphy that plated Santander, who had singled earlier in the frame. One inning later, Salters singled to right field again. Greg Allen was hit by a pitch to move Salters into scoring position, and he eventually scored on a two-out single by Dorssys Paulinoto stretch the margin to 5-0.
After a two-inning reprieve, the Hillcats offense started up again in the seventh when Papi belted his league-leading fourth home run of the year and his third in the past two days. Lynchburg tacked on two more in the eighth after Salters walked, Allensingled, and both came around to score on a wild pitch and passed ball, respectively.
Justus Sheffield started on the mound for the Hillcats and went 4 1/3 innings in his third outing of the year. He only allowed one run on three hits while striking out four. David Speer entered in the fifth inning and struck out three in 1 2/3 frames.
Speer (1-0) earned the victory after improving his season numbers to 12 strikeouts in only eight innings of work. The left-hander has yet to allow an earned run in eight career appearances with the Hillcats.
Three days after earning his first win since July 30, 2014, Cole Sulser logged his first career save as a professional by going the final three innings to seal the victory.
Frederick’s only run came in the fifth inning on a double steal when Jay Gonzalez stole second base and Tad Gold scored from third on the throw to second base.
This marked the first four-game sweep on the road for the Hillcats since Lynchburg won four straight in a series at Myrtle Beach August 17-20, 2013…Lynchburg has hit at least one home run in nine of its 11 games this year and leads the league with 13 total homers…Mike Papi has reached base safely in all 10 games he has played this season…Taylor Murphy extended his hitting streak to five games, which ties Claudio Bautista for the longest by a Hillcat this year.
Lynchburg takes its perfect road record to Woodbridge, Va., to play the Potomac Nationals for three games. Mitch Brown will start for the Hillcats in the series opener Monday at 7 p.m. Fans can listen to the action on 93.3 FM and 1320 AM as well aswww.lynchburg-hillcats.com, beginning with the Hillcats On-Deck Show at 6:45 p.m.
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