Big Inning Costs 'Cats Doubleheader Sweep
Published on June 9, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Hill City Howlers News Release
LYNCHBURG, VA - The Lynchburg Hillcats and Salem Red Sox split a doubleheader at City Stadium for the second-straight day on Sunday. The Hillcats got clutch pitching from starter Navery Moore to win game one, 4-1, but a six-run fifth inning derailed the 'Cats in a 7-4 loss in the back end of the twin bill. Birthday boy Will Skinner drove in a combined four runs, including his eighth home run of the season, on Sunday to lead the Hillcats offense. The Hillcats do not play another home game until the second half of the season.
Moore pitched five scoreless innings in game one to get his fifth win in as many decisions. Moore (7-4) did allow seven hits but was able to strand the bases loaded twice and left ten runners on base in his five innings. Moore also walked two and struck out four in the win. Moore has not taken a loss in over a month.
The Hillcats (32-29) got three runs in the second inning. The first four hitters reached in the frame, including a two-RBI double from Skinner. He scored later in the inning on an RBI-groundout by Matt Weaver, making it 3-0 Lynchburg after two.
William Beckwith reached on a single to lead off the bottom of the fourth then advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher Mike Augliera during a pickoff attempt. With the runner in scoring position, Kyle Kubitza delivered an RBI-double to extend the lead.
That was all the damage done against Augliera (4-4), who pitched a complete game to take the loss. He went all six innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on eight hits and a walk while striking out one.
The Red Sox (28-34) got their lone run in the seventh and final inning. Three straight singles off John Cornely led off the inning, including an RBI-single by Keury De La Cruz to break up the shutout. Cornely then got a strikeout and double play to end the game.
The Hillcats jumped out to an early lead in game two, but the big six-run fifth inning by Salem forced the split. The Hillcats scored two runs in the third inning. A single and double led off the inning to put two in scoring position. Cory Brownsten grounded out to score the first run then Weaver laid down a suicide squeeze to push across Elmer Reyes.
The Red Sox got a run back in the top of the fourth when Carson Blair and David Renfroe hit back-to-back doubles to plate a run. The Hillcats responded in the bottom half when Skinner, who turned 24 years old on Sunday, crushed a towering drive over the leftfield wall to plate two runs and make it a 4-1 lead.
Then the wheels came off. Jarett Miller walked two of the first three batters of the fifth inning before giving up an RBI-double to De La Cruz. That was the last batter Miller faced. He went 4.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
That made it a two-run game with two runners in scoring position and the Hillcats went to James Hoyt out of the bullpen. Hoyt gave up a line drive single on the first pitch he threw to allow the first inherited runner to score. He then walked Carson Blair before Renfroe crushed a grand slam to straightaway centerfield to give the Red Sox the lead.
Hoyt (3-2) went 2.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with a walk and four strikeouts. The six-run fifth inning tied the highest total of runs the Hillcats have surrendered in a single inning this season. Sox starter Mike McCarthy gave up all four runs in four innings of work. Robby Scott (2-3) pitched two scoreless innings of relief to get the win and Matt Price followed with a scoreless seventh to finish off the 'Cats.
The Hillcats, who sit 3.5 games out of the Northern Division entering the final week of the first half, head down to Winston-Salem for a three-game series with the Dash starting Monday at 7pm. A.J. Holland (3-4, 3.74) takes the mound for Lynchburg against Winston-Salem's Myles Jaye (3-1. 5.34) in the opener. You can join Erik Wilson for all the play-by-play action starting with the Hillcats On-Deck Show, powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg, starting at 6:40pm on 97.9 FM The Planet and lynchburg-hillcats.com.
Carolina League Stories from June 9, 2013
- Renfroe's Slam Highlights Salem's Sunday Split - Salem RidgeYaks
- Rocks Swept by Dash, Fall Back Below .500 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Winning Streak Halted at 10 Games - Potomac Nationals
- Big Inning Costs 'Cats Doubleheader Sweep - Hill City Howlers
- Mudcats Falter in Sixth Straight Loss - Carolina Mudcats
- Pelicans Sweep Mudcats with 6-4 Victory - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Blough, Ravelo Propel Dash to Sweep of Wilmington - Winston-Salem Dash
- Salem Red Sox Game Notes - Salem RidgeYaks
- Pelicans Media Notes at Carolina - 2 p.m. - Game 3 of 3 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (June 9 V. Wilmington) - Winston-Salem Dash
- Wilmington Blue Rocks Game Notes - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Hill City Howlers
- Potomac Sweeps Twin Bill - Potomac Nationals
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