Combined Effort Leads 'Cats to Victory
Published on May 22, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Hill City Howlers News Release
Myrtle Beach, SC- Clutch hitting and fantastic pitching led the Hillcats to their second consecutive win, 3-2. It was a combined effort with Nick Ahmed and Chris Garcia leading the offense, while Dimasther Delgado led the pitching staff in a close game.
The Latino swag was in full swing as Dimasther Delgado and Wilmer Font went pitch-for-pitch in the series opener. Font was the leader in the clubhouse in dazzling fashion. He went 5.0+ innings of no-hit ball. He mixed in his plus fastball with a devastating slider for six strikeouts through those five innings.
Dimasther Delgado was clutch in his first four innings of work. He mixed a fastball and a solid curveball to keep the Pelicans off-balance at the plate and induce several grounders, including two double play ground balls.
It wasn't until the fifth inning that a run would be scored. Vinny DiFazio lined a double down the left field line to start the inning. Odubel Herrera hit a low liner to shortstop Nick Ahmed, it seemed like an easy play for Ahmed, but he picked his head up and the ball went off his glove. Runners would be safe at the corners with no outs. It would be Santiago Chirino coming through with a long fly out to left that Mycal Jones caught on the run. Tagging and scoring was DiFazio for the first run of the game. The Pelicans offense would stall afterwards.
The Hillcats would answer back immediately. Robby Hefflinger walked his second walk of the day off of Font to start the top of the sixth. Chad Comer came to the plate for the first time after he replaced an injured Braeden Schlehuber, who was hit by a Font fastball in the third. Comer worked a full count but went down swinging, however, Hefflinger stole second on the play to trade a base for the out. Matt Lipka would line a single between the first and second basemen for his first hit of the day; Hefflinger was stopped a third. With Nick Ahmed at the plate, Font threw a sharp splitter that went off and under the glove of Tomas Telis behind the plate. Hefflinger wouldn't chance the play at the plate, but Lipka would scamper to second. Then, with two strikes on him, Ahmed came up with the clutch hit to left-center. Hefflinger and Lipka scored to give the 'Cats the 2-1 lead. The hit would end Font's day.
The scoring didn't stop for the Pelicans, but it would start with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Christian Villanueva got his second hit of the day by lining a ball in nearly the same spot as DiFazio an inning earlier. Then, Brett Nicholas would hit a fastball back up the middle, Lipka threw home from center, but it was not in time. The score was 2-2.
The top of the seventh would belong to the Hillcats and Chris Garcia. With two outs, Garcia would unload on a Joe Van Meter pitch that cut through the thick air on a rainy night a ricochet off the scoreboard. That would be all the Hillcats would need.
The bullpen would come through for Dimasther Delgado (2-1) and preserve the win. He went 6.0 innings, struck out three and didn't walk a batter while spraying seven hits. Joe Van Meter (1-3) would pick up the loss thanks to the solo blast off Garcia's bat. Juan Jamie got his seventh save of the season.
Game two is set for 7:05pm tomorrow.J.R. Graham(4-0, 2.50) will try to stay perfect for the Hillcats. Cody Buckel (3-1, 1.14) look to continue to dominate the Carolina League for the Pelicans.. Tune in and listen live to all the action on 105.5 FM KD Country and online at lynchburg-hillcats.com starting with the Hillcats On-Deck Show coming on the air at 6:40pm with Erik Wilson and Mike Viso.
Carolina League Stories from May 22, 2012
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- Salem Surpasses Winston, Rises into First Place - Salem RidgeYaks
- Combined Effort Leads 'Cats to Victory - Hill City Howlers
- Keys Corral Mudcats - Carolina Mudcats
- Dash Fall out of First with 3-1 Loss - Winston-Salem Dash
- P-Nats Blow Late Lead in 4-2 Loss to Wilmington - Potomac Nationals
- Blue Rocks Game Notes - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Hill City Howlers
- City Stadium Will See Purple on May 27th - Hill City Howlers
- P-Nats to Honor Armed Services Members on Military Appreciation Night - Potomac Nationals
- Pelicans Among Minors Best in Merchandising Sales - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Lowe's Community Build a Success - Winston-Salem Dash
- Former Pelican Gorkys Hernandez Makes MLB Debut - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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