Hillcats Drop Sixth Straight
July 7, 2010 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release
Day doubled home the tying run in the seventh then scored the go-ahead run later that inning, but the Hillcats fell 3-2 to Wilmington. The loss is Lynchburg's sixth straight, matching a season-high.
Scoring was at a premium in the series opener against the Blue Rocks. In fact, both teams combined for only six hits through the first six innings. The game was scoreless heading into the seventh after two great outings from the starting pitchers.
The lone blemish on starter Lance Janke's line came in the seventh inning. Wil Myers reached on a lead-off single for the Blue Rocks. Jamar Walton was the next batter, and he hit a ground ball that took first baseman Neftali Soto right to the bag. Soto took the easy out, then tried to throw out Myers heading to second. But the throw hit off Myers and went in to left field.
Myers made it to third and scored on Rey Navarro's sacrifice fly.
But the Cats struck back in the bottom of the seventh. Carlos Mendez singled to start the frame. After hitting .323 in 11 games with Double-A Carolina, Mendez returned to Lynchburg and started at third base. Mendez advanced to second on Kevin Coddington's ground out, and scored on Kyle Day's two-out double. With the go-ahead run, Jose Gualdron hit a towering pop-up 10 feet in front of home plate that Eric Hosmer dropped. Gualdron was thrown out at second, but not before Day scored the go-ahead run.
That put Janke in line for the win if the Hillcats bullpen could hold on. Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived.
Adrian Ortiz led off the top of the eighth with a single off reliever Sean Watson. Jarrod Dyson followed with a game-tying double before getting picked off at second base.
Donnie Joseph relieved Watson to retire the final batter in the eighth. But in the ninth, Nick Francis greeted Joseph with a moon-shot over the left field scoreboard at City Stadium. It was the first home run Joseph has given up in his professional career.
For the third straight night, the Hillcats had the tying run aboard in the bottom of the ninth. Soto hit a two-out single. Shane Carlson pinch ran for him, advanced to second on a wild pitch, but was stranded there after Coddington lined out to end the game.
Janke threw a season-high, and matched a career-high with seven innings on the mound. He gave up one run, but it was unearned on only two hits and struck out four. He gets no decision and Joseph gets the loss, his second of the season. Eric Basurto threw two scoreless innings in relief of starter Bryan Paukovits to earn the win.
Lynchburg (5-8, 34-48) and Wilmington (9-5, 41-43) continue their three-game series tomorrow at 7:05 at City Stadium. Curtis Partch (3-6, 4.63) starts for the Cats opposite Buddy Baumann (2-1, 2.17). Thursday Cheers presented by Miller Lite, Yuengling and The Planet (97.9 and 106.9 FM) returns for the first time in the second half. Fans can purchase select beers and soda for only one dollar. Gates open at 6:05 p.m.
Carolina League Stories from July 7, 2010
- Francis Homers Rocks to Victory - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Keys Scorched by P-Nats, 7-4 - Frederick Keys
- Middlebrooks' Two Bombs Power Sox Past Indians - Salem Red Sox
- Hoover Stifles Dash in 5-2 Loss - Winston-Salem Dash
- Hillcats Drop Sixth Straight - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Salem Slips by Kinston 4-1 - Kinston Indians
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Keys Start up Event Filled Six-Game Homestand on Wednesday, July 7 - Frederick Keys
- Dash Announces Roster Moves - Winston-Salem Dash
- Moreau Named Pitcher of the Week - Frederick Keys
- Romak Named CL Player Of The Month - Wilmington Blue Rocks
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