Hillcats Edged by Woodpeckers, 5-4
July 18, 2023 - Carolina League (CarL)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release
The Lynchburg Hillcats dropped a heartbreaking opening game of the series to the Fayetteville Woodpeckers by a score of 5-4.
Lynchburg led the entirety of the game until the ninth inning when their best reliever, Tomas Reyes, surrendered his first blown save of the season. Lynchburg did pick up two home runs through the course of the night.
The Hillcats would strike first in the third inning as Angel Zarate would deliver his second home run of the season. He would hammer one over the right-center field wall to drive home two.
Fayetteville would get a run back in the fifth after Jackson Loftin would score on a John Garcia single. Carson Tucker would get the run back for the Hillcats with his first home run of the season in the bottom of the inning. His home run was a no-doubter over the left field wall.
The Woodpeckers would strike again in the sixth as Luis Baez picked up his third double in two games, driving home Luis Encarnacion. Lynchburg would once again erase the run as Bubba Filia would reach with two-outs after a throwing error on the shortstop allowed Tyresse Turner to score from second giving them a 4-2 advantage.
However, in the ninth, Fayetteville would score three in the inning on only one hit to take the lead for good. A bases loaded walk to John Garcia would drive home the first run of the inning. One batter later, Sandro Gaston would drive a double in the gap to plate two runs and put the Woodpeckers in front.
Lynchburg would get a runner aboard in the ninth but were unable to do anything with him as they went quietly to pick up their tenth loss of the second half.
The two teams will meet for game two of the series on Wednesday night at Bank of the James Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Carolina League Stories from July 18, 2023
- Gaston's Two-Run Double Leads Woodpeckers' Thrilling Ninth-Inning Comeback Win Over Hillcats - Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- Rojas Drives in Five, Pelicans Bounce Fireflies 13-2 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- RiverDogs Stretch Winning Streak to Six with 9-5 Win - Charleston RiverDogs
- Worrell Homers Twice as 'Jackets Take Down FredNats - Augusta GreenJackets
- Fireflies Drop Opener to Myrtle Beach 13-2 - Columbia Fireflies
- Mudcats Blank Ballers 6-0 in Series Opener - Carolina Mudcats
- Long Balls Burn Nats In 6-2 Loss - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Hillcats Edged by Woodpeckers, 5-4 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Columbia Fireflies Roster Moves and Game Notes 7.18 at Mb - Columbia Fireflies
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