CarL1 Salem RidgeYaks

Hillcats Humble Red Sox 9-2, Swipe Game One of Mills Cup Final

Published on September 14, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem RidgeYaks News Release


Lynchburg, VA (September 14, 2009)- Salem jumped out out to a 2-0 lead after two and half innings, but the Hillcats roared back to run away with game one of the 2009 Carolina League Finals. With a three spot in the third against Salem starter Eammon Portice, Lynchburg gathered a lead they would not relinquish. Though Salem had the tying run in scoring position in both the sixth and the seventh innings, Salem's offense went silent for the remainder of the evening, missing opportunities and leaving 10 runners on base in the ballgame. Meanwhile, the Hillcats erupted for nine runs on 12 hits, with the bottom third of the order finishing 7-10 with three runs scored.

Salem received its fourth straight quality start this postseason, but uncharacteristically the bullpen struggled in the final third of the game. Portice faced just one more than the minimum over the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th combined, yet stumbled in the third walking a pair and allowing two hits than led to three runs. With the bases loaded and Salem leading 2-0, Chase d'Arnoud looped a blooper down the right field line to drive in a pair and tie the game at two. Two batters later, Jordy Mercer's sac fly gave the Cats a 3-2 lead.

Portice completed six innings, allowing just three runs on four hits, leaving the game with the deficit at one. Jason Rice entered to begin the seventh and lasted just three batters, giving up a solo homer to Matt Hague and a single to Alex Presley. Kyle Fernandes replaced Rice and gave up a couple singles, one of which scored Presley to make it 5-2. An inning later, the normally reliable Derrick Loop gave up three runs on two hits and a walk in just a third of an inning, and Jose Capellan was tagged for a run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning to conclude the rough eighth inning, in which Lynchburg added four to make it a 9-2 Hillcat lead.

D'Arnoud drove in three for Lynchburg, while Hague and Jose De Los Santos each drove in two apiece. Hillcats starter Justin Wilson yielded two early runs, one earned, but earned the win with five and two thirds solid innings. Chris Cullen, Harrison Bishop, and Ramon Aguero combined for the final 10 outs without allowing a run. Aguero struck out a pair and pitched the final two two innings.

Salem's tallies came on a Zach Borowiak sacrifice fly in the second and a Brad Correll RBI ground-out in the third. Jon Hee and Mike Jones each went 2-4, but seven of Salem's eight hits went for singles aside from Anthony Rizzo's third inning double.

The best-of-five Mills Cup Championship series continues on Tuesday night with Stephen Fife getting the start against Rudy Owens. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 from City Stadium in Lynchburg. Following Tuesday's matchup, the action will shift to Lewis-Gale Field for the remainder of the series on Thursday and, if necessary, Friday and Saturday.

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Carolina League Stories from September 14, 2009


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