Defensive Miscues Cost Hillcats
August 6, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release
Lynchburg, VA- The Hillcats continued to hit well on Saturday night, knocking four doubles in the game. However, defensive lapses led to unearned runs, and the Hillcats fell 7-4 to the Wilmington Blue Rocks.
The two teams scored in the first inning. The first three batters for Wilmington all singled, and White Merrifield scored on an RBI groundout by John Whittleman. Hillcats starter Dimasther Delgado escaped the inning without giving up any more runs.
The Hillcats picked up where they left off the night before in the bottom of the first inning. Todd Cunningham led off the inning with a double, and Andrelton Simmons reached on a bunt single. Barrett Kleinknecht hit a double that scored Cunningham. Simmons reached third on the play, then scored on Joey Terdoslavich's sacrifice fly to put the Hillcats up 2-1.
A couple of errors cost the Hillcats in the fifth inning. Gerard Hall stood on first after a single. Whit Merrifield dropped a bunt to the right side of the infield. Terdoslavich tried to flip the ball to Barrett Kleinknecht covering first. The throw was a little high and it pulled Kleinknecht's foot off the bag. With runner now on first and second, Yem Prades again dropped a bunt down, this time down the third base line. Christian Bethancourt popped out from behind the plate and fired a throw down to third. The throw was wide and everyone reached safely. All three runners came around to score that inning to put the Blue Rocks ahead 4-2.
The Hillcats cut into the lead in the sixth. Cunningham led of the inning with a bunt single. Simmons popped out, but Barrett Kleinknecht hit a bunt down the third base line and beat it out for a single. Cunningham advanced to third on a fielders choice, then Joe Leonard lifted a sacrifice fly to center to cut the lead to one.
Lynchburg tied the game in the seventh. Geraldo Rodriguez doubled, then was pinch-run for by Keenan Wiley. Wiley advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, then scored on a single by L.V. Ware to tie the game 4-4.
The Blue Rocks went ahead for good in th top of the eighth. Andrew Wilson entered the game and retired the first two batters he faced. Gerard Hall singled, and Merrifield and Prades hit back to back doubles. Prades came in to score on the second error of the game by Bethancourt. Despite threatening in the bottom of the eighth, the 7-4 lead held up for the rest of the game.
Wilson (1-3) took the loss, while Kendall Volz entered the game in the seventh and earned his first win since joining the Blue Rocks last week.
The two teams are now in a tie in third place in the Northern division, with an identical 16-25 record in the second half.
The three game series between these teams ends Sunday night. Lefty Blaine Sims (3-6) will face Blue Rocks righty Tyler Sample (6-9) in the rubber match. First pitch is at 6:05 pm and the gates will open at 5.
The Hillcats On-Deck Show presented by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg will go on the air at 5:40 pm. Tune in to 105.5 KD Country or go to lynchburg-hillcats.com to listen live to all the action.
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