Indians’ pitching proved to be as dominant as their league leading ERA advertised Friday night, limiting the Hillcats to just one run through 14 innings. Kinston took game one 6-1 and game two 1-0, becoming the first team to sweep a doubleheader from Lynchburg this season.
The Indians utilized the long ball early in game one to take their first lead of the night. Casey Frawley hit a two-run shot in the bottom of the third inning to put the Indians up 2-0. Abner Abreu added another homer in the fourth, a solo blast increasing the lead to 3-0.
RHP Brett Brach started game one for Kinston. He held the Hillcats hitless through four and two-thirds innings. Keenan Wiley finally broke up the no-no with a line drive single to right field.
The Hillcats would then break-up the shutout in the sixth. Marcus Lemon doubled to lead off the frame and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Christian Bethancourt. The Hillcats trailed 3-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Kinston added three insurance runs in their end of the sixth. Hillcats’ starter Chris Masters entered the sixth inning but was taking out with one out and runners on at first and second after allowing an RBI single to Roberto Perez. RHP Jeremy Haynes relieved Masters. He allowed both inherited runners to score and the Indians took a 6-1 lead.
RHP Jose Flores pitched a perfect seventh to seal the win for the Indians.
Brach (6-5) tossed six innings, allowing just the one earned run on his way to the win, while Masters (5-4) suffered the loss allowing six runs, four earned through five and one-third innings.
In game two, the Hillcats offense got started early but failed to plate any runs.
Lynchburg stranded five runners, four in scoring position, through the first two frames of game two, and would fail to score through the entirety of the ballgame.
LHP T.J. House combined with relievers, Chris Jones and Preston Guilmet, for the shutout as the Indians swept the doubleheader with a 1-0 game two victory.
The lone Kinston run came in the bottom of the fourth. Adam Abraham hit his 12th home run of the season, and that was all his pitching staff would need.
House (6-7) earned the win after five scoreless frames. David Hale took the loss allowing just the one run on four hits through five innings of work. Guilmet through a scoreless ninth, recording his 22nd save of the season for Kinston.
The Hllcats are now 5-10 in the second half after being swept by the Indians in three games.
Lynchburg returns home Saturday night to begin a seven-game, eight-day homestand. Game one is set for 7:05 pm against the Potomac Nationals. RHP Zeke Spruill (6-7) will start for the Hillcats against RHP Adam Olbrychowski (2-4) for the Nationals.
If you can’t make it to the game in person, listen live to all the action starting with the Hillcats On-Deck Show powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg at 6:40 pm on 105.5 KD Country and online at lynchburg-hillcats.com
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Chris Graham
