Winston-Salem used a five-run second inning to jump on top of the Hillcats early and held off a late comeback to take the second game of the series, 6-4.Mitch Brown recorded a season-high six strikeouts, but earned the loss after allowing six runs on four hits at Calvin Falwell Field Friday night.
ONE BAD INNING
Mitch Brown (2-8) notched a season-high six strikeouts, but allowed five runs in the top of the second and the Hillcats were unable to overcome the deficit. Brown allowed seven straight batters to reach base in the inning. Back-to-back singles by Omar Narvaez and Nolan Earley and back-to-back walks by T.J. Williams and Cleluis Rondon put the Dash in position for a big inning. Rondon walked with the bases loaded to score Narvaez, then Michael Suiterdoubled to bring home Earley and Williams to give the Dash a 3-0 lead. Adam Engel singled to drive home Rondon, and Jake Peter rounded out the scoring with a RBI that scored Suiter to put the Dash up 5-0.
WALK THIS WAY
Eric Haase reached on a walk to lead off the bottom of the third inning and came around to score on a RBI double by Luigi Rodriguez to give the Hillcats their first run of the game and cut the lead to 5-1. Haase walked twice in the game and has received a free pass 10 times in the last seven games.
In the fifth inning, LeVon Washington earned his fourth RBI in as many games with the Hillcats by drawing a walk with the bases loaded, which made the score 6-2 at the time. The Hillcats walked eight times in the contest. Lynchburg hitters have been patient at the plate all season long as Mike Papi leads the Carolina League with 48 free passes and Nellie Rodriguez ranks fourth in the league with 31.
GETTING GREEDY
Clint Frazier, Luigi Rodriguez, and Mike Papi each recorded extra-base hits against the Dash on Friday. Frazier roped his eighth dinger of the year in the bottom of the seventh to cut the Dash lead to 6-3.
Luigi Rodriguez and Papi each recorded a double. Papi’s double led off the eighth and he was driven home on a single by Yhoxian Medina to bring the Hillcats within two, 6-4. Medina went 2-for-4 for the second straight night and is now 4-for-8 with three runs and an RBI against the Dash.
Lynchburg has recorded at least one multiple-base hit in 13 of its last 16 games. Lynchburg owns a league-leading 211 extra-base hits this season. Luigi Rodriguez leads all batters with 30, including 10 home runs, six triples, and 14 doubles.
KEEPING UP WITH THE ‘CATS
Luigi Rodriguez came back with a fury in his first game since the All-Star break…The lefty went 3-for-5 with a RBI.
UP NEXT
Lynchburg will wrap up a three-game series with Winston-Salem on Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Following the game, fans will be treated to a postgame fireworks display presented by Select Bank and Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham. Fans can tune in to the action on ESPN Virginia 93.3 FM and 1320 AM as well as www.lynchburg-hillcats.com beginning at 6:10 p.m. for the Hillcats On-Deck Show.
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