Paulino’s triple completes Lynchburg Hillcats sweep, 5-3

Dorsyss Paulino went 4-4 with a three-run triple to break a 1-1 tie in the eighth and help complete a Lynchburg Hillcats sweep against Wilmington, 5-3. Thomas Pannone pitched 5 1/3 while striking out seven batters.

The Hillcats and Blue Rocks were locked in a pitchers’ duel for most of the contest. Anderson Miller hit a first-inning home run to give Wilmington a 1-0 lead. The ‘Cats were kept quiet until the fifth inning when Anthony Santander doubled, and Mark Mathias scored on a fielding error on the play to tie the game at 1-all. The score stayed tied until the bottom of the eighth frame.

Santander began the stanza with a double over the center fielder’s head. Bobby Bradley proceeded to be intentionally walked and Taylor Murphy walked to load the bases. Dorssys Paulino tripled to right field to drive in all three runs and collect his fourth hit of the game. Paulino and Santander each recorded 4-4 performances in the series finale. A two-run homer by Mike Hill put the score at 5-3 in favor of the Hillcats.

The same duo that combined to go the distance in Pannone’s last start at Myrtle Beach did the same Thursday. Thomas Pannone struck out seven of the first 13 batters of the contest. The only hit to do damage off of him was the solo homer byAnderson Miller in the first frame. Jared Robinson closed out the final 3 2/3 innings for Lynchburg. He surrendered only three hits including the two-run roundtripper in the ninth.

Lynchburg completed its fourth three-game sweep of the season and now has a series record of 21-7-9…The ‘Cats completed the season-series against Wilmington with a record of 14-5…The Hillcats outscored the Blue Rocks 137-75 during their matchups and hit 31 homers in the 19 contests.

The Hillcats begin a three-game series against the Potomac Nationals Friday at City Stadium. Both teams are currently battling for first-place in the Northern Division second-half standings. Matt Esparza (2-2, 2.10) will start for the Hillcats at 6:30 p.m. 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.