Bizarre Last Play Gives Hillcats Walk-Off Win
Published on June 24, 2017 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release
LYNCHBURG, VA -A bizarre final play saw Sam Haggerty score from first on a wild pitch and an error as the Lynchburg Hillcats (42-29) defeated the Frederick Keys (31-40) 7-6 on Friday night at City Stadium. With the setback the Keys drop to nine games below .500 for the first time this season, while the club has now lost eight straight in Lynchburg dating back to 2016.
In the bottom of the ninth, Haggerty singled to center off Tanner Chleborad to send up Ka'ai Tom. The 1-1 offering from Chleborad (0-2) was a wild pitch enabling Haggerty to advance to second. However the Hillcats leadoff man kept going to third and the throw from Armando Araiza got past Shane Hoelscher and into leftfield. Randolph Gassaway threw home but it was late, to give Lynchburg the victory.
Frederick nearly came back from a sizable hole thanks to a four-run eighth inning. With one out, Ademar Rifaela homered off Kieran Lovegrove, while Gassaway and Yermin Mercedes followed with consecutive singles. Two batters later, Hoelscher drove Lovegrove's first pitch over the leftfield wall to tie the game.
Lynchburg got on the board first thanks to a solo homer by Martin Cervenka off Cristian Alvarado. A lead that did not last for long, Glynn Davis responded with a long single in the top of the third which scored Araiza from second.
From there, the Hillcats scored five of the next six runs before the Keys four-run outburst. Sicnarf Loopstok opened the fourth with a home run, while an error and a single by Willi Castro made it 3-1 Hillcats. Ryan Mountcastle added a solo shot in the fifth, but Lynchburg batted around in the sixth scoring three times. With men at first and second Castro stroked a two-run double and later scored on a two-out throwing error by Hoelscher. In the game, Frederick committed three errors.
Argenis Angulo (3-1) earned the win tossing a scoreless ninth. Chleborad suffered the loss, giving up an unearned run in the last inning.
The Keys and Hillcats play the third game of the series on Saturday night. Left--hander Brian Gonzalez (2-5, 5.69) starts for the Keys against Hillcats righty Triston McKenzie (5-4, 3.28). First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m and the broadcast can be heard on MAX Country 93.5/100.5 FM, frederickkeys.com and the TuneIn Radio App.
Carolina League Stories from June 24, 2017
- Ponce and Mudcats Hold on for 3-2 Road Win in Potomac - Carolina Mudcats
- Lambert, Zavala Power Dash to Win - Winston-Salem Dash
- Hillcats Run Past Keys - Frederick Keys
- Stolen Bases Pave the Way in 5-2 Win - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Mudcats Steal Win with Eight Late Runs - Potomac Nationals
- Mudcats Stage Late Comeback and Win 11-6 in Potomac - Carolina Mudcats
- Bullpen Holds Strong as Rocks Prevail - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Bizarre Last Play Gives Hillcats Walk-Off Win - Frederick Keys
- Dunning Spins Quality Start in Narrow Loss - Winston-Salem Dash
- Wild Pitch Leads to Wild Ending in Close Win - Lynchburg Hillcats
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