After nearly being no-hit a night prior, the Lynchburg Hillcats bats came alive on Friday night, as they beat the Salem Red Sox, 5-4.
Lynchburg (28-37) snapped a seven-game losing skid and beat the Red Sox (31-35) for the fifth time in six games this season.
Lynchburg opened the scoring in the second inning with six straight hits, a season high. Mitch Longo led off the inning with a single and scored on a Trenton Brooks RBI double to give the Hillcats a 1-0 lead. It marked the first time Lynchburg held a lead in a game since June 9 against Potomac.
Later in the second, after Logan Ice singled, Alexis Pantoja ripped an RBI single down the left field line to plate Brooks. Dillon Persinger added a run-scoring single of his own to score Ice and give the Hillcats a 3-0 lead.
In the third inning, Lynchburg added two more runs for a 5-0 advantage. Longo reached after being hit by a pitch, and Brooks walked with one out. Two batters later, Pantoja grooved a two-run double to left field.
Justin Garza (Win, 3-4) provided the Hillcats with a solid start on the hill. The right-hander set down 11 straight at one point, giving up just one run on three hits, while striking out six.
Salem chipped away at the lead. The Red Sox scored their first run in the sixth inning. Brett Netzer singled with one out and Santiago Espinal followed with an RBI double, trimming the deficit to 5-1. That ended Garza’s night, but Jared Robinson came on to get the final out of the inning.
The game tightened up in the seventh when Salem added three runs. Robinson loaded the bases on a hit batter, walk and single. Trenton Kemp then hit an RBI single and Jordan Procyshen muscled a sacrifice fly to make it a 5-3 game. Tyler Hill drew Salem closer with an RBI groundout, tightening the game further at 5-4.
Rob Kaminsky made his first appearance for the Hillcats this season, tossing a scoreless eighth inning, while Dalbert Siri (Save, 3) slammed the door with a three up, three down ninth inning to close out the win.
With the series even at a game apiece, the series continues on Saturday when the Hillcats send lefty Sam Hentges (3-5, 3.52) to the mound to face off with Red Sox righty Jake Thompson (3-4, 4.87). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at City Stadium.
It will be Sparkling Saturday at City Stadium, featuring post-game fireworks presented by La Carreta and The Leaf Creative Salads.
Max Gun and Matt Present will bring you the action beginning at 5:50 p.m. on TuneIn Radio and Radio434.
For tickets or more information, visit lynchburg-hillcats.com, call 434-528-1144. or stop by the City Stadium box office.
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Chris Graham
