Hillcats Outslug Red Sox 8-5
June 7, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Salem Red Sox News Release
Lynchburg, VA (June 7, 2011)- The Salem Sox jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after half an inning, but the Hillcats scored seven of the game's next eight runs en route to an 8-5 victory over the Sox on Tuesday night at City Stadium. Salem's starting nine pounded out 13 hits in the contest, including five in the first, but the potent Hillcats countered with 15 hits of their own to outslug Salem for the win.
The Sox jumped on Lynchburg starter Zeke Spruill early with four consecutive two-out base knocks in the top of the first. With a runner on third, Reynaldo Rodriguez doubled, and Dan Butler, Matt Spring, and Zach Gentile singled in succession to put the Sox up 3-zip. The three-run frame was the largest first inning outburst since Salem scored four in the first against Potomac on April 23.
Ryan Pressly worked in and out of danger in the first three innings, but yielded just a solo run on a sac fly in the second despite scattering six hits. In the fourth, however, Todd Cunningham reached on a Kolbrin Vitek fielding error, putting runners at first and second with one out. The Hillcats took advantage of the mistake, as Andrelton Simmons drove home two on a double and Adam Milligan smashed a two-run homer two batters later to give Lynchburg its first lead of the game at 5-3.
Salem was able to cut the deficit in half in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Rodriguez, his second run driven in of the game. However, Lynchburg countered with two of its own in the bottom of the fifth, again as a result of a Salem defensive miscue. A Braeden Schlehuber double knocked Pressly out of the game and brought on Will Latimer. Keenan Wiley rolled a bunt down the first base line, and Latimer errantly flipped the ball down the right field line, allowing Schlehuber to score. L.V. Ware then brought home a run on a sac fly to put Lynchburg up 7-4.
Salem scored on an RBI groundout in the seventh to get within two, but Todd Cunningham regained the three-run lead with a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the eighth.
The Sox loaded the bases in the top of the ninth with two outs off Ryan Buchter, bringing the potential go-ahead run to the plate. But Rodriguez struck out to end the game, stranding three of Salem's eight runners left on base on the night.
Only two of Lynchburg's eight runs were earned, a result of two costly Salem errors. In the first two games of the series, the Salem Sox have committed five errors, allowing the Hillcats to score six unearned runs.
Peter Hissey notched his second consecutive three-hit game for Salem, going 3-for-5 with two stolen bases. In the last two nights, Hissey has gone 6-for-9, raising his average 19 points in the process. Eight of the nine Salem starters recorded a hit in the contest, with Rodriguez and Butler joining Hissey with multiple hits.
The top four batters in the Hillcat order went a combined 10-for-19 with two homers, five RBI, and four runs scored. Overall, Lynchburg had six starters smack multiple base knocks in its 15-hit outburst, one shy of its season high.
Having lost five straight, Salem looks to newcomer Anthony Ranaudo to be the stopper in his second Carolina League start Wednesday at City Stadium. Lynchburg will counter with Willie Kempf, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM.
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Carolina League Stories from June 7, 2011
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- Hillcats Outslug Red Sox 8-5 - Salem Red Sox
- Two Big Frames Help Wilmington End Skid - Wilmington Blue Rocks
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- Fair Or Foul" Close Call Goes against Nats - Potomac Nationals
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- Blue Rocks Beat Kinston 8-2 - Kinston Indians
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
- K-Tribe Notes for Tuesday at Wilmington - Kinston Indians
- Pelicans Game Notes - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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