Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes
Published on May 6, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Hill City Howlers News Release
MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS (15-13) VS LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (15-12)
May 6th, 2012 -- 2:05 PM
Calvin Falwell Field at Lynchburg City Stadium
RHP Kyle Hendricks (0-3, 3.07) vs. RHP J.R. Graham (3-0, 3.00)
THE HILLCATS: Last night, the Hillcats beat the Myrtle Beach Pelicans 4-3...The Pelicans struck first with an unearned run in the top of the first inning...Two throwing errors on the infield led to Myrtle Beach taking 1-0 lead...1B Chris Garcia drove in and scored a run in the second inning to give Lynchburg a 2-1 lead...The game eventually went tied 3-3 after the sixth...In the bottom of the ninth, DH Tim Smith hit a ground ball to the right side with runners at first and third. the double...The game winning run scored on a fielder's choice and the Hillcats won with a walk-off...Lynchburg is now 15-12 and is still in first place in the Carolina League Northern Division...
VS. MYRTLE BEACH: The Hillcats and Pelicans meet for the first time in 2012 this weekend in Lynchburg...The first two games have been split, making today the rubber-match...The Hillcats were swept at home by the Pelicans in their first series at City Stadium a year ago...That sweep came in the midst of a ten-game losing streak for the Hillcats...The Hillcats were 4-6 against Myrtle Beach at home last season and went 9-11 overall against the Pelicans...
MEET ME IN APPOMATTOX: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, of the South, surrendered the game-winning run in the ninth last night to the Hillcats of the North...The Hillcats still have a losing record against Southern opponents...The 'Cats are 2-6 against Carolina, 3-3 against Salem, and now 1-1 against Myrtle Beach...Yet to face Winston-Salem, who is in first place in the Southern Division...The Hillcats are now 6-10 against the Southern Division, but they've dominated divisional foes in the North, posting a 9-2 record in those games...
FLAIR FOR THE...ANTI-CLIMATIC: The Hillcats snapped a season-high three-game losing streak last night with a quiet walk-off ground ball fielder's choice...With runners at the corners and one out, the Hillcats had the game-winning run at third base in the bottom of the ninth...DH Tim Smith hit a bouncer to 2B Santiago Chirino who went to tag the runner from first to get a double play, but missed the tag and everyone was safe, game over...An odd way to walk-off but it worked...It was the second walk-off victory for the 'Cats this season...
GOOD, BUT DIFFERENT: DH Tim Smith had the walk-off RBI last night, in the Hillcats' first walk-off since C Evan Gattis hit a game-winning homer on April 19 against Frederick...Smith has been the replacement clean-up hitter for Lynchburg since Gattis moved up to Double-A...Gattis was hitting .385 with nine home runs, 29 RBI, and 16 extra-base hits, all of which are still league-highs...Smith, through seven games, is hitting .364 (8-for-22) with a double, three RBI, and two runs scored...Gattis hit another home run for Mississippi last night and is now hitting .381 (8-for-21) with three home runs, two doubles, eight RBI, five runs scored, slugging .905, with an on-base percentage of .409 through five games...His three home runs already match the Mississippi team-high for the season...
SCANNED MY CAT, I CAN PLAY: OF Kyle Rose went 1-for-4 in his first appearance after being activated from the disabled list yesterday...He was placed on the DL April 25 after colliding with Carolina Mudcats' 1B Jesus Aguilar running out a ball to first...Aguilar left the game, and Rose finished but hit the DL a day later with a concussion...OF L.V. Ware was released from the Braves organization yesterday as well, which made room for Rose to be activated...Ware signed as Minor League Free Agent back in 2007 and made it as high as Double-A in 2010 and 2012...
RUNNIN' DOWN A DREAM: The Hillcats swiped three more bases last night...SS Nick Ahmed stole his team-leading ninth, while 1B Chris Garcia and OF Kyle Rose both collected their second as part of a double steal...Rose swiped second base, and Garcia broke to the plate on the throw down to steal home...The team has now taken 35 bases this season, second-most in the Carolina League behind the Salem with 51...Ahmed's nine are tied for third in the league among individuals...The 'Cats have also been caught a league-high 18 times, however...Ahmed was caught for the first time last night on a third to first move from RHP Nick Tepesch...
TODAY'S OPPOSING PITCHER: RHP Kyle Hendricks was selected in the eighth round in 2011 out of Dartmouth University...Drafted 39th round by the Angels in 2008 but went to college...Was a freshman All-American and was named to the All-Ivy League team as a junior...Made professional debut with the Short-season Spokane in the Northwest League...Went 2-2 with a 1.93 ERA in 20 relief appearances...Did not allow a run in 15 of 20 outings...Struck out 36 in 32.2 innings, while walking just four...Ranked second among relievers in batting average against (.169), BB/9IP (1.10), fewest baserunners/9IP (6.61), and ranked third in strikeouts/9IP (9.92)...Made a spot start for Double-A Frisco on September 5...Allowed one run on four hits in three innings...Currently 0-3 with a 3.07 ERA this season through five starts...Has completed at least five innings in his last four, and has allowed at least five hits in each start...Makes his first start against the Hillcats tonight...
Carolina League Stories from May 6, 2012
- Mudcats Split with Keys in Thrilling Fashion - Carolina Mudcats
- Early Miscues Cost Sox in 5-2 Sunday Setback - Salem RidgeYaks
- Dash Lock Down Salem for Series Win - Winston-Salem Dash
- Hillcats Take Series Behind Graham's Gem - Hill City Howlers
- Myrtle Beach Drops Rubber Game at Lynchburg, 4-1 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Potomac Takes Rubber Match, 3-1 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Amazing Grace: P-Nats Win 3-1 - Potomac Nationals
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Hill City Howlers
- Blue Rocks Game Notes - Wilmington Blue Rocks
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