Hillcats Clinch Playoff Spot with 3-2 Win
Published on June 12, 2016 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Hill City Howlers News Release
Lynchburg defeated Myrtle Beach 3-2 Sunday afternoon at City Stadium to clinch the first-half Northern Division title. Luis Lugo tied a career high with seven innings and only allowed three hits. The 'Cats offense rallied in the eighth frame to take the lead and win the contest.
LUGO PITCHES LIGHTS OUT
Luis Lugo (2-2) was dominant on the mound in the afternoon contest. He surrendered three hits without any walks. The only miscue during his outing was a solo shot off the bat of Gioskar Amaya in the fifth inning. Lugo struck out six batters, which fell one shy of a season high. Unfortunately, Lugo did not factor into the decision because Myrtle Beach tied the game in the eighth inning.
HILLCATS SCRATCH ACROSS ENOUGH
Lynchburg tallied two runs in the third and another in the eighth to secure the 3-2 win. The 'Cats opened the scoring in the third. Greg Allen began the frame with a walk and advanced to third on a base hit by Taylor Murphy. Allen came home on an RBI fielder's choice by Anthony Santander for the first run of the contest. Santander stole second base to be in scoring position for an RBI double by Yu-Cheng Chang to push the score to 2-0.
After a pair of Gioskar Amaya solo home runs - one in the fifth and another in the eighth - deadlocked the score, the Hillcats rallied in the eighth to earn the win. A Chang single and Claudio Bautista walk put two on with nobody out. With Daniel Salters batting, Chang and Bautista executed a double steal, and an errant throw allowed Chang to plate the decisive run.
SHORT HOPS
Lynchburg secured the Northern Division first-half title for the first time since 2012, which also marks the last time the 'Cats won a Carolina League Championship...Lynchburg has clinched a playoff spot for the fifth consecutive season.
ON DECK
Lynchburg begins a four-game, three-day series against Carolina Monday at 6:30 p.m. Justus Sheffield (4-2, 3.10) will start for the Hillcats. Fans can listen to the action on 93.3 FM and 1320 AM as well as www.lynchburg-hillcats.com, beginning with the Hillcats On-Deck Show at 6:15 p.m.
Carolina League Stories from June 12, 2016
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- Amaya Homers Twice in 3-2 Loss to Hillcats - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Hillcats Clinch Playoff Spot with 3-2 Win - Hill City Howlers
- Rocks Unable to Complete Third Straight Rally, Drop Finale 6-5 - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Mars' Triples Pave Way to 6-5 Salem Victory - Salem RidgeYaks
- Keys Use One-Run Win to Take Four of Five Games - Frederick Keys
- June 12 - Carolina Mudcats Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (June 12 at Carolina) - Winston-Salem Dash
- O'Neal Transferred to Mississippi; Quintana Returns to Carolina - Carolina Mudcats
- Potomac Nationals 2016 Game Notes vs. Frederick Keys - Potomac Nationals
- 'Cats to Play Doubleheader Tuesday - Hill City Howlers
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