Hillcats Fail to Complete Sweep in 5-0 Loss
August 12, 2012 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release
Lynchburg, VA- The mission went unaccomplished as the Hillcats couldn't complete the sweep of the Carolina Mudcats in the series finale. Carolina came away with the 5-0 win and the season series win by a 11-9 count. Mike Rayl, Robert Nixon and Grant Sides combined to shutout Lynchburg. The shutout was the ninth time the Hillcats offense was blanked this season.
It was appropriate that there was a solid pitching performance on a day when the last 30-game winner, Denny McLain, visited Lynchburg City Stadium. However, the Hillcats weren't on the right side of that result by the end of game. Initially, Aaron Northcraft was dominant for Lynchburg. He retired the first 11 batters he faced, but in the top of the fourth--with two outs--Giovanny Urshela went deep of Northcraft to break the 0-0- tie. The solo homer was Urshela's 10th of the season.
Northcraft's counterpart, Mike Rayl, was sloppy but effective. He walked four and hit two batters in his five innings of work but only allowed two hits that didn't lead to any runs.
The sixth inning proved to be difficult for Northcraft, as well. Dwight Childs started the inning by reaching on an Emerson Landoni error, Delvi Cid moved him over with a sac bunt and Bo Greenwell completed the run with a single to left. The score was 2-0.
Manager Luis Salazar left Northcraft in for the eighth, but the plan backfired. A infield single and an error allowed Cid to get to second to start the inning. Tony Wolters singled to move Cid to third and put runners on the corners. With Bo Greenwell at the plate, Northcraft threw a wild pitch, Cid and Wolters both advanced with Cid's run making it a 3-0 for the Mudcats. Greenwell would end up walking and Northcraft's day was finished. Ryne Harper entered and the first batter he faced, Urshela, lined a single to right that scored Wolters to make it a 4-0 ball game.
The final run would score on a Wolters RBI single in the top of the ninth to cement the lead at 5-0.
Rayl improved to 9-8 with the win and move his winning streak to three. Northcraft (8-10) got the loss and now has lost six decisions in a row. He went seven-plus innings, allowed six hits that led to four runs--three earned.
Lynchburg welcomes the Myrtle Beach Pelicans tomorrow for a three-game set. First pitch will be at 7:05pm. Dimasther Delgado (6-6, 4.21) gets the nod for the Hillcats. Luke Jackson (4-1, 4.40) will take the rubber for Myrtle Beach. Should you not be able to get a ticket, the Hillcats On-Deck Show powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg goes on the air at 5:40pm. Listen live to all the action on 105.5 FM KD Country and online at lynchburg-hillcats.com with Erik Wilson and Mike Viso.
Carolina League Stories from August 12, 2012
- Mudcats Silence Hillcats to Claim Season Series - Carolina Mudcats
- Hillcats Fail to Complete Sweep in 5-0 Loss - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Keys Dumped in 9-3 Loss - Frederick Keys
- Blue Rocks Blank Red Sox 5-0 to Complete Sweep - Salem Red Sox
- Homer Happy Pelicans Win 9-4 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Ridings and Rogers Shut out Salem - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Johnson, Dash Blank Potomac for Series Win - Winston-Salem Dash
- Nationals Shutout in Rubber Match against Dash - Potomac Nationals
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
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