Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes
July 13, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release
WINSTON-SALEM DASH (8-10, 40-48) vs LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (6-12, 36-52)
July 13th, 2011 -- 7:05 PM
Calvin Falwell Field at Lynchburg City Stadium
LHP Santos Rodriguez (2-2, 3.67) vs LHP Chris Masters (5-4, 3.61)
THE HILLCATS: The Hillcats were off Tuesday...Monday, the 'Cats lost to the Potomac Nationals 11-10...Potomac took the early lead when Francisco Soriano hit the first pitch of the game over the right field wall...The Hillcats went on to hit four home runs in the first three innings and led 8-1 heading into the fourth...The Nationals eventually tied the game 9-9...In the ninth, LHP Ryan Buchter surrendered two runs in a single appearance for the first time as a Hillcat...Down 11-9, Lynchburg nearly came back but Joe Leonard, trying to score from first on a double to right-center, was thrown out at home representing the tying run for just the second out of the inning...The Hillcats currently sit in fourth place in the Northern Division at 6-12, 4.5 games back of the Nationals...
VS. WINSTON-SALEM: The Hillcats are 3-6 against the Dash this season...The home team is 7-2 this year...Winston-Salem took the season series 16-4 against the Hillcats in 2010...However, the Hill-City has welcomed a new affiliate in the Atlanta Braves this year...Last season the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (2010 Braves Advance-A affiliate) nearly split the season series with the Dash taking nine games of 20...
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Lynchburg had compiled eight runs on eight hits, four of which left the yard, in the first three innings Monday night...With an 8-1 lead it appeared the Hillcats were going to cruise to an easy finale win over Potomac...However, the Nationals outscored the 'Cats 10-2 from the fourth inning on...Two crucial errors helped five unearned runs score for Potomac during that 10-2 run...The seven-run lead was the biggest blown lead of the season, eclipsing the Hillcats' previous mark of three by more than double, which they had done three times...On the series, Lynchburg scored 18 runs on 36 hits and lost the set 2-1...They were also shut out in the second game...
TIME TO LICK THEIR WOUNDS: Yesterday's day off for the Hillcats could have been a blessing or a curse...More time to think about the worst defeat of the season, or time to rest up after a grueling 11-10 slugfest...This off day was the first to split up a homestand for the Hillcats this season, albeit it was only the fourth true off-day of the season (not counting the All-Star break)...So far the 'Cats are 1-1 with a rain out the day after an off-day...
ARE YOU IN GOOD HANDS: Lynchburg's primary middle infield pair this season has been SS Andrelton Simmons and 2B Phil Gosselin...Simmons, who was thought to be one of the best, if not the best defensive player in the 2010 draft, but also highly sought after for his 98 mph heater...And Gosselin, who was primarily an outfielder in college...The duo got off to a rocky start on the field committing a combined 23 errors in April and May...Things have turned around dramatically with just seven miscues between the pair since the start of June, and none have been fielding (six throws and one missed catch)...
BEST OF THE BRAVOS: Eight members of the Hillcats are ranked amongst the top 30 prospects in the Braves organization according to Baseball America...That list includes C Christian Bethancourt (12), SS Andrelton Simmons (15), RHP David Hale (17), RHP Dimasther Delgado (18), OF Todd Cunningham (20), OF Adam Milligan (22), INF Joe Leonard (23) and 2B Phil Gosselin (25)...
THE GOOSE IS LOOSE: INF Phil Gosselin went 2-for-4 with two home runs and drove in four Monday night...It was his first multi-home run game of his professional career...He has hit safely in 17 of his last 22 games going back to June 10...In that stretch he hitting .382 (29-for-76), with a three home runs, eight doubles, 16 RBI, and 11 runs scored...He's lifted his batting average from .263 to .289 in that time, and now ranks fifth in the league in batting behind his middle infield counter-part Andrelton Simmons at .302 (4th)...
SECOND HALF SURGE: C Shawn McGill went into the All-Star break on an 0-for-18 slide...Since the three days off, he's been red hot...He's started nine of the Hillcats first 18 games in the second half at catcher...In his nine opportunities, McGill is 13-for-33 with two doubles, four RBI, and four runs scored...Currently on a season-high nine-game hitting streak...
THIS JUST IN: RHP Mark Lamm joins the Hillcats from Rookie-level Danville...Lamm is the first 2011 draftee to reach the Advanced-A level for the Braves...Drafted in the sixth round this season out of Vanderbilt, Lamm made two appearances with Danville, hitting one batter and striking out four while allowing no hits, no walks, and no runs through two single inning outings...Lamm takes the roster spot of C Braeden Schlehuber, who was just called up to AA Mississippi...
TONIGHT'S OPPOSING PITCHER: LHP Santos Rodriguez was originally signed by Atlanta as a free agent on September 28, 2006...Atlanta traded Rodriguez to the White Sox as part of a package for Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan on December 4, 2008...In 2009 spent most of the season in Bristol, and averaged 14 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, sixth best among all Rookie League relievers...Averages 13.2 strikeouts per nine innings pitched in his career...Second season with Winston-Salem...Making just his third start this season...Has made three relief appearances against Lynchburg...Pitched four innings, giving up nine hits and two runs...Currently 2-2 with a 3.67 ERA...
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