Hillcats Bats Go Quiet, Fall 5-2
Published on April 25, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Hill City Howlers News Release
Zebulon, NC - The Hillcats were held to to just four hits tonight in a 5-2 loss to the Carolina Mudcats. Catcher Braeden Schlehuber had three of the four hits batting in the ninth spot. He also drove in both runs for the Hillcats with an RBI single and a solo home run, his third of the season.
Carolina took the early lead with a three-run homer off the bat of first baseman Jeremie Tice. It was Tice's second home run in three games against the Hillcats, and his third of the season. The Mudcats led 3-0 after the first inning.
LHP Ronan Pacheco struggled early in his fourth start of the year. He walked four and gave up four hits in the first two frames. The first inning saw three run score on Tice's long ball. In the second inning, the Mudcats loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a single with one out. Pacheco struck out designated hitter Jesus Aguilar and then got TIce to ground out to second base to leave the bases loaded.
Schlehuber put the Hillcats on the board in the third inning with a solo home run over the left field wall. It was his third of the season and ninth RBI. Lynchburg trialed 3-1.
The Mudcats answered with another run in the bottom of the third. Catcher Jake Lowery doubled off the wall in left field. A single moved him to third base with nobody out. Shortstop Ronny Rodriguez then grounded into a 4-6-3 double play and Lowery came in to score. It was 4-1 Carolina.
Lynchburg scored their second and final run in the fifth inning. Second baseman Matt Weaver doubled on the first pitch he saw with one out. Schlehuber lined a single to left moment later, and in came Weaver. Schlehuber finished the night 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, and run scored. The Hillcats trailed 4-2.
Once again, Carolina answered the Hillcats immediately. Tice stopped any momentum the Hillcats thought they may have with his second tape measure shot of the night and third in three games. It was a solo shot that put the Mudcats up 5-2. Tice finished the night 3-for-4 with two homers, four RBI, and two runs scored.
The Mudcats went up 5-2 and that would be the final.
Carolina's bullpen took over in the seventh. RHP Shawn Armstrong tossed the seventh and eighth scoreless. Then, RHP Jose Flores struck out a pair and walked one in a blank ninth frame to record his fourth save of the season, and second against Lynchburg in three nights.
LHP T.J. House (2-0) earned the win. He completed six innings, surrendered just two runs on three hits, while walking three and striking out four. Pacheco (0-2) took the loss after giving up four runs on eight hits and four walks through four innings.
The Hillcats are now 10-7. They still hold the best record in the Carolina League, but the distance between them and the rest of the league has shrunk to just a half game. The Myrtle Beach Pelicans and Winston-Salem Dash, both of the Southern Division are 10-8.
Tomorrow, Lynchburg will complete their four-game set against the Mudcats with an 11:00am first pitch. RHP J.R. Graham (2-0, 3.00) will start for the Hillcats against RHP Brett Brach (0-0, 7.04) for Carolina. Listen live to all the action starting with the Hillcats On-Deck Show powered by Honda.Suzuki of Lynchburg at 10:50am on 105.5 FM KD Country and online at lynchburg-hillcats.com
Carolina League Stories from April 25, 2012
- Britton Dominates in 4-1 Salem Triumph - Salem RidgeYaks
- Britton's Breakout Game Takes Down Rocks - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Hillcats Bats Go Quiet, Fall 5-2 - Hill City Howlers
- Tice Launches Mudcats to Victory - Carolina Mudcats
- Tepesch Dominate in Doubles Parade, 3-1 Win - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Keys' Bats Quieted in 3-1 Loss - Frederick Keys
- Blue Rocks Game Notes - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Dash Explode for 14 Runs in Win - Winston-Salem Dash
- Dash Blank Nationals 14-0 - Potomac Nationals
- Chien-Ming Wang to Pitch Saturday in Potomac - Potomac Nationals
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Hill City Howlers
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