CarL1 Hill City Howlers

Comeback Cats Sock Salem In Game Two Of Mills Cup Championship Series

Published on September 15, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Hill City Howlers News Release


Jose De Los Santos belted a solo home run - his first of the season - with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to lift Lynchburg to a 5-4 walk-off win over Salem in game two of the 2009 Mills Cup Championship Series at City Stadium Tuesday. With the victory, the Hillcats took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series. The series shifts to Salem for game three on Thursday at 7:05 p.m.

Salem (3-2) seized the early lead with a run in the top of the third. Ryan Dent smacked a solo home run over the left field wall of Cats starter Rudy Owens to put the Red Sox in front 1-0.

Lynchburg (5-2) capitalized on an error from Red Sox starter Stephen Fife in the bottom of the fifth. Kris Watts ripped a leadoff double off Fife. After Tony Sanchez popped out to Salem's Anthony Rizzo, Watts advanced to third on a groundout by Matt Hague. Alex Presley drew a walk and De Los Santos hit a grounder to the edge of the pitching mound. Fife rushed the throw to first and De Los Santos reached on the throwing error, which enabled Watts to score from third. Chase d'Arnaud followed with a two-run double down the left-field line that gave the Cats a 3-1 advantage.

The Red Sox stormed back in the top of the seventh. Owens issued a leadoff walk to Brad Correll. Following a strikeout of Mike Jones, Owens was lifted from the contest and replaced by Noah Krol, who gave up a single to Tim Federowicz. Chih-Hsien Chiang followed with a three-run home run over the right-field wall to put Salem back in front by a 4-3 score.

After Robert Coello tossed two innings of scoreless relief for Salem, Jason Blackey entered the game to pitch the bottom of the eighth. Blackey's control eluded him as the right-handed reliever issued consecutive walks to d'Arnaud and Josh Harrison. Jordy Mercer reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Jamie Romak drew a walk from Blackey, which brought d'Arnaud home with the tying run.

Kyle Fernandes replaced Blackey and struck out Watts before inducing Sanchez to ground into a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play.

With the score still tied at 4-4, Fernandes retired the first two Hillcat hitters he faced in the bottom of the ninth. De Los Santos crushed a 3-1 offering over the scoreboard in left field to give Lynchburg the dramatic win in walk-off fashion. It was the first homer or the season for De Los Santos, who had hit just two home runs in his six-year professional career prior to Tuesday's game. Both of De Los Santos' previous home runs came during the 2005 season when he played for Pittsburgh's Dominican Summer League team. The home run capped off Lynchburg's fourth straight comeback victory in the 2009 post-season.

Ronald Uviedo (1-1) tossed an inning of scoreless relief to pick up the win for Lynchburg. Fernandes (1-1) was charged with the loss.

With a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, the Hillcats are just one win away from capturing the 2009 Mills Cup Championship. Game three will take place at Salem's Memorial Ballpark on Thursday night. Lynchburg will send LHP Jeff Locke (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound. Salem is expected to start RHP Kyle Weiland (0-0, 2.57 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. If necessary, games four and five will also take place in Salem on Friday and Saturday night, respectively.

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. Thursday.

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Carolina League Stories from September 15, 2009


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