Cats Win to Snap Home Losing Streak
July 20, 2010 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release
Neftali Soto hit a game-winning solo home run to lead off the eighth inning and give the Hillcats the 7-4 victory over the Keys. The win snaps Lynchburg's seven-game home losing streak and gives the Cats an opportunity to win their second home series of the half.
Lynchburg jumped on Frederick and starter Ryan O'Shea early in the ballgame. Denis Phipps nailed a two-out, two-run triple to score Soto and Chris Richburg to make it 2-0 Hillcats. Phipps then scored in Brodie Greene's double to make it a three-spot in the first inning for Lynchburg.
The Cats added one more after a home run by Phipps in the third inning off O'Shea. It was Phipps' second home run with Lynchburg, and first at City Stadium.
Jordan Hotchkiss was pulled after five shutout innings. And Frederick capitalized on the Hillcats bullpen. Billy Rowell led off the sixth with a single. L.J. Hoes then hit a groundball to second that Cody Puckett fielded and threw to second base, but Greene missed the catch and both runners advanced to second and third.
Reliever Nick Christiani retired the next two batters, but Miguel Abreu hit a two-run single, and later scored on a single by Xavier Avery. That made it a 4-3 ballgame.
Against new Hillcat Ruben Medina, the Keys were able to tie it up. Rowell singled with one out and later scored on a ground out by Buck Britton.
With the game tied in the bottom of the eighth, Soto led off the frame with a home run off the scoreboard beyond the left field wall. The home run was Soto's second in as many games, his team-leading 13th this season and 10that City Stadium.
But the Cats weren't done. Richburg singled right after Soto to notch his second hit as a Hillcat. His first was a double in the sixth. Phipps then doubled to put runners at second and third. Greene hit a sac fly to score Richburg, and Phipps scored on Kyle Day's single. Donnie Joseph came on for the save and allowed the tying run to bat, but struck out the last two hitters he faced to get the save.
Hotchkiss didn't allow a run in his five innings, but doesn't get credit for the win. Medina gets a blown save and a win in his first appearance with Lynchburg. Joseph notched his ninth save of the season with the Hillcats.
Lynchburg and Frederick conclude their three-game series with the rubber game tomorrow night at 7:05. Lynchburg will start James Avery (5-3, 2.89) opposite Ryan Berry (2-1, 2.39) for the Keys. Gates open at 6 p.m.
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