Cats Sweep Keys
Published on June 3, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release
Lynchburg defeated Frederick 7-6 in a rain-shortened contest at Harry Grove Stadium Wednesday night to complete a three-game series sweep of the Keys. The Hillcats will travel to Wilmington for a four-game series with the Blue Rocks, beginning at 7:05 p.m. Thursday.
The Hillcats jumped out to an early lead in the second. Miles Durham led off the frame with his fourth triple of the season. After Kris Watts flied out, Jared Keel drove in Durham with an RBI single. Keel advanced to second when Kent Sakamoto was hit by a Nate Nery pitch.
Nery recovered with a strikeout of Alex Presley before surrendering a two-run double to Ray Chang, which scored Keel and Sakamoto, giving Lynchburg a 3-0 advantage.
Lynchburg tacked on four more runs in the top of the third. Pedro Alvarez drew a lead-off walk from Keys reliever Chris Salberg, who entered the game after Nery was ejected by home plate umpire Brent Rice in the bottom of the second. After Matt Hague singled, Durham walked to load the bases. Watts hit into a 1-6 force play that erased Durham at second and allowed Alvarez to score. Keel followed with an RBI groundout that plated Hague. Sakamoto belted a two-run home run over the right-field wall, extending the Hillcats lead to 7-0.
Frederick struck back in the bottom of the third. Jedidiah Stephen drew a leadoff walk from Lynchburg starter Justin Wilson. Robbie Widlansky laced an RBI double to drive in Stephen with the first Frederick run. Matt Angle reached on an infield single and moved into scoring position when Wilson uncorked a wild pitch. Pedro Florimon Jr. ripped a two-run double that plated Widlansky and Angle. After Brandon Waring reached on a one-out walk, Caleb Joesph crushed a three-run home run to bring the Keys within a run at 7-6.
The Keys threatened again in the fifth. Waring hit a one-out single off Hillcats reliever Mike Colla. Joseph followed with a double and Billy Rowell walked to load the bases. But Colla retired Bobby Stephens and Jedidiah Stephen on consecutive infield pop outs to escape the inning unscathed.
The game was called due to rain after the Hillcats batted in the top of the sixth. Colla (4-0) tossed 2.2 innings of scoreless relief to earn his fourth win for Lynchburg. Nery (0-3) took the loss for Frederick.
With the victory, Lynchburg improved to 35-17 and completed its third series sweep of the 2009 season. The Hillcats remain in first place in the Carolina League's Northern Division, five games in front of second-place Potomac. Frederick fell to 25-28 with the loss.
The Hillcats will begin a four-game series at Wilmington on Thursday night. Game one of the Lynchburg-Wilmington series is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start Thursday.
Carolina League Stories from June 3, 2009
- Cats Sweep Keys - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Nationals Walk Past Sox 2-1 - Salem RidgeYaks
- Walks Boost P-Nats to Series Sweep of Salem - Potomac Nationals
- Hillcats Win Game Finale in Rain-Shortened Game - Frederick Keys
- Dash Series Finale Postponed - Winston-Salem Dash
- Hillcats at Keys Tonight - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Solo Homers Propels Blue Crew to 4-2 Win - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Kinston Falls 4-2 - Kinston Indians
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