CarL1 Lynchburg Hillcats

Cats Blank Blue Rocks To Even Series

Published on September 10, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release


Rudy Owens and a trio of Lynchburg relievers combined on a shutout of Wilmington as the Hillcats claimed a 1-0 victory in game two of the 2009 Carolina League Northern Division Championship Series at City Stadium Thursday. With the win, Lynchburg evened the best-of-five series at 1-1. Game three of the NDCS will take place in Wilmington's Frawley Stadium at 7:05 p.m. Friday.

Owens got off to a good start by retiring six of the first seven Blue Rock batters in the contest.

Lynchburg (1-1) pushed a run across off Wilmington starter Danny Duffy in the bottom of the second. Duffy yielded consecutive singles to Jamie Romak and Tony Sanchez to start the inning. Matt Hague grounded into a force out that erased Sanchez at second base, but Romak came around to score on the play, giving the Cats a 1-0 advantage.

One run proved to be all the offense Lynchburg needed thanks to outstanding pitching from Owens and relievers Matt McSwain, Ramon Aguero and Ronald Uviedo.

Wilmington (1-1) threatened to score in the fourth. Johnny Giavotella hit a leadoff single and stole second base. With two outs in the inning, Giavotella took third base on a passed ball by Sanchez. But Owens struck out Eric Hosmer to escape the inning unscathed.

The Blue Rocks mounted one final scoring threat in the top of the eighth. Derrick Robinson hit a two-out single off Aguero and stole second base. Sanchez' throw to second skipped into center field, which allowed Robinson to advance to third. Jose De Los Santos had trouble locating the ball, but he was able to throw it back to the infield in time to keep Robinson from scoring. Aguero retired Giavotella on a fly out to center field to end the inning.

Uviedo worked a scoreless frame in the top of the ninth to seal Lynchburg's 1-0 victory. With the win, the Cats knotted the best-of-five series at a game apiece. Owens (1-0) pitched six scoreless innings, allowing four hits, a walk and six strikeouts. Duffy (0-1) gave up three hits and one run with two walks and seven strikeouts in six innings of work. He was charged with the loss. McSwain and Aguero were each credited with a hold, and Uviedo picked up his first save in the post-season.

The series now shifts to Wilmington for games three and four. Lynchburg will send LHP Jeff Locke (5-8, 4.59 ERA) to the mound in game three. Wilmington is expected to counter with LHP Michael Montgomery (4-1, 2.25 ERA). Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. Friday at Frawley Stadium.

Tune in to FM 105.5 KD Country, 96.9 FM Roanoke or online at www.kdcountry.com or www.lynchburg-hillcats.com for all the live action beginning at 6:40 p.m. Friday.

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Carolina League Stories from September 10, 2009


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