CarL1 Lynchburg Hillcats

Butler Grand Slam Stops 'Cats in Their Tracks

Published on May 30, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release


Salem, VA - Lynchburg broke up a 3-3 tie in the top of the ninth with four two-out hits, scoring three runs. However, Red Sox designated hitter Dan Butler one-upped the 'Cats with a walk-off Grand Slam in the bottom of the ninth. Butler finished the day 3-for-4 with two home runs and all seven RBI for Salem.

The Hillcats scored first in the top of the second inning. Geraldo Rodriguez came up with runners at second and third with one out and lined a 2-0 pitch of the head of left fielder Shannon Wilkerson. Adam Milligan and Joey Terdoslavich scored on the play and the Hillcats took a 2-0 lead.

Salem threatened in the bottom of the third inning when Hillcats' starter Chris Masters walked the bases loaded with just one out. After a meeting on the mound, Masters got Shannon Wilkerson to ground into an inning ending 6-4-3 double play to get out of the jam.

Masters walked six, but took a no-hitter and the shutout into the sixth inning. Reynaldo Rodriguez broke up the no-hit bid with a one-out double in the sixth. The next batter Dan Butler homered to left, ending any hopes of a shutout as well. After six, it was 3-2 Hillcats.

Salem tied the game up with one more run in the eighth making it 3-3 heading into the top of the ninth.

Kendall Volz entered the game for the Red Sox. He struck out the first two batters he faced, but then Andrelton Simmons grounded a ball into the hole at shortstop for an infield single. Simmons began a string of four straight hits that scored three runs for the 'Cats with two outs in the ninth.

Leading 6-3 going into the bottom of the ninth, Lynchburg sent RHP Matthew Frevert to the mound. Frevert popped up leadoff batter Peter Hissey to the shortstop Simmons for out number one. Then Wilfred Pichardo worked a full count before doubling off the right field wall. Frevert worked two more full counts to the next two batters, walking both, to load the bases with one out for Dan Butler.

Butler was 2-for-3, with a home run, and had already driven in all three runs for the Red Sox entering his ninth inning at-bat. He fouled away a 2-2 pitch back to the screen behind home plate, before sending the next pitch over the left-centerfield wall for a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth. The Red Sox won 7-6 over the Hillcats.

Volz (2-2) surrendered three runs in the top of the ninth inning but backed into the win, while Frevert (1-1) blew the save and suffered the loss.

The Hillcats snapped a season high four-game winning with the loss, and are now 21-28 on the year.

The series continues tomorrow in Salem at 7:05 pm. LHP Matt Crim will start for the Hillcats against RHP Pete Ruiz for the Red Sox. Catch all the action starting with the HIllcats On-Deck Show powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg at 6:40 pm on 105.5 KD Country and online at lynchburg-hillcats.com.

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Carolina League Stories from May 30, 2011


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