'Cats Survive Late Scare, Win 4-3
Published on August 17, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Hill City Howlers News Release
Winston-Salem, NC - The Hillcats put up four runs on 10 hits Wednesday night on their way to a nail-biting 4-3 victory. Andrelton Simmons finished a double short of the cycle going 3-for-5 with a solo home run, his first of the season. The Dash scored two in the eighth inning to bring them within one run, but fell short.
Dash catcher Mike Blanke homered in the bottom of the second. Winston-Salem took a 1-0 lead. That would be the only surrendered by Hillcats starter Dimasther Delgado.
After the long ball Delgado retired the next 11 batters he faced. He finished six innings, walked none and struck out six in the ball game.
Meanwhile, the Hillcats offense got to work, starting in the fourth. Joe Leonard reached on an error to lead off the inning. Shawn McGill then singled of the glove of the third baseman. Shortstop Tyler Saladino backhanded the deflected ball, but threw the ball past first base, which allowed Leonard to reach third. Leonard came home one pitch later after Gerlado Rodriguez ground into a 6-4-3 double play.
Lynchburg took the lead in the fifth inning. Simmons tripled with one out in the inning. The next batter Marcus Lemon dropped a successful squeeze bunt back to the pitcher. LHP Matt Wickswat threw Lemon out at first as Simmons easily scored from third giving the 'Cats a 2-1 lead.
Simmons struck again in the seventh. Wickswat left a 1-0 fastball up and in, and Simmons sent it over the left field wall. It was Simmons' 460th at-bat of the season and his first home run. Lynchburg went up 3-1.
Another Dash error led to a much-needed insurance run for the Hillcats in the eighth.
Down 4-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth, Winston-Salem sent the top of the order to the plate. Leadoff man Saladino singled and Jared Mitchell walked to start. Andy Wilkins then hit a ball to the wall in right, but Keenan Wiley made a leaping catch for the first out. Saladino advanced to third on the play.
LHP Ryan Buchter was brought in for RHP Robert Roth after the fly out to face Ian Gac. Gac singled in a run on the first pitch from Buchter. After a strikeout, Nick Ciolli singled in another run before Buchter got out of the inning clinging to a 4-3 lead.
Lynchburg went scoreless in the ninth, and Buchter went back out in the bottom of the frame to close. Saladino delivered his fourth hit of the night with two outs, but went stranded as Mitchell went down on strikes to end the game.
Delgado (9-6) earned the win, while Wickswat (5-4) took the loss. Buchter earned his 13th save of the season.
The Hillcats are now 22-30 in the second half. With Potomac losing, Lycnhburg is now five games back of a playoff spot in the Northern Division.
The 'Cats travel home now to host the Frederick Keys for a four-game series this weekend. LHP Chris Masters (7-5) will start for Lynchburg against Ryohei Tanaka (8-4) for Frederick. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm. If you can't make it to the game, listen live to all the action on 105.5 KD Country and online at lynchburg-hillcats.com.
Carolina League Stories from August 17, 2011
- 'Cats Survive Late Scare, Win 4-3 - Hill City Howlers
- Frederick Completes Sweep of Rocks - Frederick Keys
- Round-Tripper Trilogy: Salem Pounds Myrtle 8-3 - Salem RidgeYaks
- Rocks Swept Away in Frederick - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Late Dash Rally Falls Short - Winston-Salem Dash
- Big Salem Third Captures Series Win - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Sarianides Now: Kinston Reliever Gets First Win - Potomac Nationals
- Pelicans Game Notes - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
- Blue Rocks Gone Country Night Slated for August 19 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Hill City Howlers
- War and the Family Stone Coming to Harry Grove Stadium September 30th - Frederick Keys
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