LeDarious Clark hit the first pitch of the ballgame over the left field wall, giving the Wood Ducks a lead that they would carry throughout the night and eventually win, 8-1, over the Lynchburg Hillcats on Friday at City Stadium.
Following the home run to lead off the evening, the visitors would plate two additional first inning runs, on RBI singles from Brendan Davis and Chuck LeBlanc to put the Hillcats in an early hole.
Lynchburg starter Zach Plesac (0-1) used a double play ball to escape the first inning, and settled down for the next couple of frames, getting ahead of Down East hitters with his off speed pitches. After the Wood Ducks plated a run with a two-double fourth inning, Plesac ran into trouble again in the fifth, giving up two more hits and a pair of runs before giving way to Billy Strode.
Plesac yielded six earned runs on 10 hits in 4.2 innings on Friday.
The Hillcats would get on the board in the home half of the fifth, as Anthony Miller singled to lead off the frame, and moved to third on a double from Trenton Brooks. Alexis Pantoja collected the first RBI of the season for Lynchburg, lifting a sacrifice fly to center field to bring Miller in from third.
Trailing 7-1 in the sixth, the Hillcats had a prime opportunity to get back into the game, loading the bases against Down East reliever James Jones. With nobody out, Li-
Jen Chu lined a hot shot to first base that was snagged by Andretty Cordero, who was able to double Gavin Collins off of second.
With two outs the bases were loaded again, Kaleb Fontenot came out of the Wood Duck bullpen to strike out Jodd Carter and end the threat.
Kieran Lovegrove was a bright spot for the Hillcats out of their bullpen, as the right-hander worked the final two innings of the night, allowing just one baserunner, striking out two.
Edgar Arredondo (1-0) picked up the win for the Wood Ducks, striking out seven in five innings of work and allowing just three hits.
With inclement weather expected on Saturday, game three of the series will now be played as part of a double-header on Sunday afternoon with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. The afternoon will feature two seven inning contests.
It’s Sandlot Sunday at the ballpark, Kids Run the Bases, Family Catch In the Outfield & Wiffle Ball.
Left-hander Tanner Tully will start game one for the Hillcats, opposite of right-hander Michael Matuella for the Wood Ducks. In game two, righty Justin Garza will toe the slab for Lynchburg and Down East with counter with right-hander Jonathan Hernandez.
Max Gun and Matt Present will bring you the action beginning at 5:50 p.m. on TuneIn Radio as well as on the Radio434 app.
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