Kyle Kubitza hit a walk-off home run in the ninth inning to give the Lynchburg Hillcats a 3-2 win over the Frederick Keys Wednesday night at City Stadium. Kubitza also had an RBI-single in the second inning and Matt Lipka hit an RBI-double to tie the game in the eighth. A.J. Holland gave up two runs in six innings for his third quality start in his last four starts.
It was the second walk-off win for the Hillcats (21-16) this season. Kubitza had just one hit in the month of May entering the game Wednesday, but picked up two RBI knocks in the contest. His game-winning home run was the first of the season for Kubitza.
Holland gave up both runs in the second inning. He walked Nicky Delmonico to lead off the inning; Holland walked a season-high five batters in the game. Holland retired the next two hitters before giving up a double to left to put two in scoring position. Nine-hole hitter Johnny Ruettiger flared an 0-2 pitch softly into left field to plate two.
The Hillcats got a run back in the home half. David Rohm hit a one out double and scored when Kubitza singled through the hole on the right side, making it 2-1 Frederick.
That score held all the way to the eighth inning. Keys (20-18) starter Tyler Wilson was dominant through seven one-run innings. He gave up just three hits and walked two while striking out six. He left with a lead, but the bullpen couldn’t hold it.
Tommy Winegardner (1-1) came on in relief and the Hillcats took advantage, tying the game off him in the eighth before Kubitza took him deep in ninth.
The ‘Cats tied the game on an RBI-double from Lipka that scored Elmer Reyes. Reyes walked to lead off the inning and advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Luis De La Cruz before Lipka drove him in.
Ronan Pacheco replaced Holland and retired all eight hitters he faced out of the bullpen for Lynchburg, being lifted with two outs in the ninth for righty Wilson Rivera. Rivera (3-0) walked the first man he faced but came back to strike out Brenden Webb to end the inning.
De La Cruz entered the game in the third inning, replacing Cory Brownsten behind the plate. Brownsten took a foul ball off the knee in the top of the first inning but remained in the game after a visit from the trainer. He caught three innings but was pinch-hit for before his first at bat in the bottom of the third.
The Hillcats and Keys square off in the rubber match Thursday at 6:05pm. Gates open at 5pm and it’s another ThemeThursday at the stadium, Ladies Night, with half-off admission for females 15 and over plus chances to win prizes throughout the game. It’s also Thursday Cheers with $2 drink specials presented by Yuengling, Miller Lite and 93.7 KHF. James Hoyt (2-1, 3.64) takes the hill for Lynchburg, facing off with Tim Berry (2-2, 2.95) for the Keys. If you can’t make it to the game, join Erik Wilson and Jake Levy for the play-by-play action starting with the Hillcats On-Deck Show, powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg, on 97.9 FM The Planet and lynchburg-hillcats.com.
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Chris Graham
