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CarL1 Lynchburg Hillcats

Dent's walk-off RBI single caps Red Sox' epic comeback in 7-6 triumph

September 5, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release


Ryan Dent hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift Salem to a 7-6 walk-off win over Lynchburg at Salem Memorial Ballpark Saturday night. The Red Sox scored seven unanswered runs to complete the two-game series sweep. Lynchburg will host Salem on Sunday night at 6:05 p.m.

Lynchburg (27-41, 72-65) seized the early lead in the top of the third. Chase d'Arnaud reached on a hit by a pitch from Salem starter Dave McKae, and Josh Harrison followed with a single. Jordy Mercer hit into a fielder's choice that erased Harrison at second and enabled d'Arnaud to score.

Mercer advanced to third when Red Sox centerfielder Che-Hsuan Lin dropped a fly ball off the bat of Jamie Romak. The Cats took advantage of Lin's error when Kris Watts drove in Mercer with an RBI groundout. Tony Sanchez followed with an RBI double in his second at-bat with the Hillcats. The Cats picked up two more runs in the inning on consecutive RBI singles from Matt Hague and Starling Marte. All five Lynchburg runs were unearned.

The Cats added a run in the top of the fourth. McKae gave up a leadoff double to d'Arnaud to start the inning. After d'Arnaud reached third on a groundout from Harrison, Mercer delivered a sacrifice fly to extend Lynchburg's lead to 6-0.

Salem (34-34, 66-71) cut into the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Chih-Hsien Chiang doubled to start the frame and advanced to third on a wild pitch from Cats starter Nate Adcock. Zach Borowiak struck out on a wild pitch that got away from Sanchez and gave the Red Sox runners at the corners with no outs. Ryan Dent drove in Chiang with an RBI single. Lin followed with an RBI single that scored Borowiak and Dent advanced to third on a fielding error by Alex Presley. Jon Hee drove in Dent with a sacrifice fly, which reduced the deficit to 6-3.

The Red Sox drew closer with a run in the eighth. Dent led off the inning with a single off Cats reliever Tom Boleska. After Boleska retired the next two Salem batters, Anthony Rizzo laced an RBI double that plated Dent and made it a 6-4 ballgame.

Salem refused to go quietly. With Matt McSwain pitching in relief of Boleska, Mike Jones hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth and was lifted for pinch runner Luis Segovia. Chiang followed with a single and Borowiak laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners into scoring position. Pinch hitter Tim Federowicz drove in Segovia with an RBI single. Moments later, Dent delivered a sacrifice fly that scored Chiang and knotted the score at 6-6.

Lynchburg wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead in the top of the 11th. Mercer drew a leadoff walk from Salem reliever Jason Blackey. Romak hit his second double of the night to give the Cats runners at second and third with no outs. Blackey walked Sanchez later in the inning to load the bases with one out. But Hague hit into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. The Hillcats struggled in clutch situations throughout the night and finished 3-for-19 with runners in scoring position.

Cats reliever Mike Colla surrendered a leadoff double to Chiang in the bottom of the 11th. After Colla retired the next two Salem batters, Dent delivered the game-winning single to cap a 4-for-4 night at the plate. He drove in three runs and scored twice for Salem.

Blackey (2-0) worked one scoreless inning and picked up the win. Colla (6-3) took the loss. With the win, Salem now leads Kinston by two games for the final spot in the Carolina League playoffs with just two games remaining in the regular season.

Lynchburg will face Salem on Sunday at City Stadium. The Hillcats are expected to start LHP Jeff Locke (4-8, 4.85 ERA). Salem is expected to send RHP Eammon Portice (8-7, 4.56 ERA) to the mound. Game time is set for 6:05 p.m.

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 5:40 p.m. Sunday.

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Carolina League Stories from September 5, 2009


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