CarL1 Lynchburg Hillcats

'Cats Collapse in Ninth, Lose in Extras

Published on April 12, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release


Lynchburg, VA- The Hillcats dropped their first game of the season to the Salem Red Sox, 10-8, after blowing a four run lead in the ninth. Closer Matt Chaffee couldn't slam the door on an offense that scored seven runs in the last three innings.

Righty Gus Schlosser got off to a rough start in his second career start. For the first time this season the Hillcats failed to score first thanks to a solo blast by second baseman Sean Coyle. The Sox went quietly after Coyle's first home run of the season.

In the bottom half of the inning RHP Ryan Pressly locked in to hold the lead and keep the 'Cats in this unfamiliar position. The offense rewarded Pressly by adding another run in the top of the second. It started with first baseman getting plunked by Schlosser, then right fielder Shannon Wilkerson helped execute a perfect hit and run that helped Hedman scamper to third. Runners were on the corners with just one out with catcher Adalberto Ibarra at the plate. Wilkerson added pressure by stealing second and putting two runners in scoring position. Ibarra hit a soft ground ball to third baseman Jakob Dalfonso on a 2-0 count. Dalfonso traded the run for the out, which gave Salem the 2-0 lead.

However, Lynchburg was able to answer back immediately in the bottom of the second inning starting with a single by first baseman Chris Garcia. After right fielder David Rohm flew out, Dalfonso worked a walk to put Garcia in scoring position. Then, the league leader in doubles, left fielder Robbie Hefflinger, added to his totalafter a smash off the right field wall. The hit scored Garcia, Dalfonsoadvanced to third andHefflinger cruised into secondto cut the lead to 2-1. Catcher Braeden Schlehubertied the game up just two pitches later when he grounded out toCoyle.Center fielder Matt Lipka couldn'textend the inning andgame stay tied attwo.

Schlosser quickly retired the Sox in thetop of the third.Shortstop Nick Ahmed responded by leading the inning off with a infield single. Two batters later designated hitterEvan Gattishit a line shot off the wall in right field, the speedyAhmed scored to give the Hillcats the 3-2 lead.

Salem fought back in the top of the fourth with back-to-back doublesby shortstop Xander Bogaerts and Hedman.The latter scored Bogaerts to tie the game at three apiece.

Again, the Hillcats answered back. This time, Schlehuber sent a bombovertheleft field wall torecapture the lead forLynchburg 4-3.

The top of the fifthsaw one hit but it ended quickly for Schlosser. It would be his last.

Two more runs would be scored in the bottom of the fifth by the 'Cats.Second baseman Tommy La Stellastarted the inning off with a line drive single up the middle. One pitch later, Gattis jogged around the bases with his first home run of the season.The game was 6-3 and Pressly would face just one more hitter.The right-handed throwing Scott Swinton entered and shut downLynchburgforone and one-third innings.

Lefty Chasen Shreve matched Swinton through the sixth and seventh.However, in thebottom of the seventh, Swinton ran into major problems. The inning started with an Ahmed single, followed by him stealing second. La Stella wasplunked and with runnersatfirst and second andnone out,Manager Luis Salazar called a double steal.Both runners were successful with Gattis at the plate. Gattis continuedto produce by skying a fly ball to center fielddeep enough forAhmed to score. Garica followed Gattis with double and the lead looked cushy at 8-3 after La Stellaraced home.

The top of the eighth was nearly identicalto the the top of the fourth. This time,first baseman Travis Shaw got things started with a two out double.Bogaertsadded his second double of the day and his first RBIwhen Shawtouched home. The lead wasnow 8-4.

The 'Cats went quietly in theeighth, but the top of the ninth was anything but that. Closer Matt Chaffeecame inlooking to slam the door shut in a non-save situation.It got started off poorly with Wilkerson's first big fly of the season. The next batter, Ibarra, added a double before center fielder JackieBradley Jr.singled him home with one out to cut the lead to 8-6. It looked like Chaffee was going to escape after striking out Coyle, but Jacobs had other ideas. After fouling a few off, he pulled a home run over the left field wall to tie the game. Righty Andrew Wilson came in and stopped the bleeding after surrendering a hit.

The offense was stifled by RHP Pete Ruiz, before the Sox got there swings in extras. Lynchburg went deeper into the 'pen with righty Ryan Weber, but it made no difference. Salem reeled off four consecutive singles to take the 10-8 lead. The heart of the lineup couldn't produce anymore runs, but the damage was done.

The bottom of the tenth saw the 'Cats threaten with runners at first and third and two outs. La Stella entered the box but grounded out to Coyle to end the game.

The losing pitcher was Ryan Weber (0-1). He pitched one inning, surrendering five hitswhile striking out two.Pete Ruiz (1-0) got the win in two innings of work. He scattered three hits while walking one and striking out one. The loss was Lynchburg's first of the season.

Friday, Lynchburg will travel to Potomac for the first game of a three game set. Game time is 7:05pm. Lefty Ronan Pacheco will take the mound. In his first outing hewent four scoreless, but he did not qualify for the win. His counterpart, LHP Bobby Hansen, last faced Lynchburg last Saturday. He went two innings and gave up four runs in the loss. The Hillcats' live radio broadcast with Erik Wilson will come on the air at 6:40pm, starting with the Hillcats On-Deck Show powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg.

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Carolina League Stories from April 12, 2012


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