Hillcats Game Notes April 12, 2015, 1:05 p.m. at Potomac
April 12, 2015 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release
LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (2-1) vs. POTOMAC NATIONALS (1-2)
Sunday, April 12, 2015 -- 1:05 PM
Pfitzner Stadium
RHP Mitch Brown (0-0, --) vs. RHP Wander Suero (0-0, --)
I CHALLENGE THEE TO A DUAL DUEL: Offense was at a premium yesterday at Pfitzner Stadium, as the two teams combined for only four runs and 12 hits in 14 innings of baseball...For the entire day, there were only five instances where a team had more than one baserunner in an inning...Of the four runs scored, only two were earned...
A LITTLE HELP, PLEASE: RHP Adam Plutko took a hard-luck loss in the first game of the doubleheader after pitching a complete game and only allowing one run on three hits...The right-hander retired the first 11 batters he faced, and only needed 35 pitches to do so, but Jayson Werth hit a solo homer with two outs in the fourth inning to account for the only run of the game...Unfortunately for Plutko, the feeling is familiar...Last year with the Carolina Mudcats, Plutko had a 2-4 record in quality starts...
LET'S PLAY TWO: Lynchburg wasted no time in playing its first doubleheader of the season, splitting a twinbill with the Potomac Nationals yesterday...Last year, the Hillcats only played four doubleheaders and split three of them...The Hillcats have not swept a doubleheader since August 21, 2013 against the Carolina Mudcats...
CLEAR THE FENCE, AND YOU'RE A WINNER: In three games so far at Pfitzner Stadium, there has been one home run in each game, and the team that hit the homer has won the game...Paul Hendrix hit an opposite field homer on Opening Day as part of an 8-6 Hillcats win...Yesterday, Jayson Werth's solo homer marked the difference in a 1-0 game to begin the doubleheader, while Bradley Zimmer homered to help guide Lynchburg to a 2-1 victory in the second contest Saturday...
VS. POTOMAC: Lynchburg has started off the year 2-1 against Potomac just like 2014...At that point, Potomac went on to win 13 of the next 18, including both games in the postseason...Despite recent the recent run by the Nationals, the series has historically been a close one as the Hillcats hold a 197-203 mark against Potomac all-time...
IT'S HELLER TIME: RHP Ben Heller only had seven saves in 66 career appearances entering the season, but he has risen to the occasion in 2015 by closing out both games he's pitched in this year...Heller tossed a perfect seventh to secure the 2-1 victory yesterday...In the season opener, the only baserunner against him was a result of an error, and Heller struck out the final batter of the game with the tying run on base in an 8-6 win...It represents the first time he has posted back-to-back saves in his career...Going back to last year, Heller is currently enjoying an 8 2/3 scoreless innings streak and has not allowed a run since August 7...
TRIBE CONNECTIONS: Lynchburg may be new to the Cleveland organization, but plenty of Hillcats have strong connections with members of the parent club...RHP Justin Brantley tossed two scoreless innings of relief Thursday night and is the cousin of Indians outfielder Michael Brantley, who was an MLB All-Star and won a Silver Slugger Award last season...RHP Adam Plutko and RHP Trevor Bauer were college teammates at UCLA for one season...While not a current Indian, Manny Ramirez shares something in common with Hillcats 1B Nellie Rodriguez as they both attended George Washington High School in New York City...
Carolina League Stories from April 12, 2015
- Cubs Rehabber Chris Denorfia Doubles in Shutout Defeat - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Blue Rocks Earn Split by Blanking Pelicans - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- P-Nats Blank Lynchburg 5-0 to Earn Series Split - Potomac Nationals
- Webb Walk-Off Homer Gives Keys Series Win - Frederick Keys
- Dash Drop Opening Series in Walk-Off Fashion - Winston-Salem Dash
- Mudcats Sneak Past Red Sox 4-2 - Salem Red Sox
- Hillcats Blanked by Potomac, 5-0 - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Cubs Outfielder Chris Denorfia to Rehab with Pelicans Beginning Sunday - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Orioles Outfielder David Lough to Begin Rehab with Keys - Frederick Keys
- Hillcats Game Notes April 12, 2015, 1:05 p.m. at Potomac - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Pelicans Fight Back to Win First Extra Inning Game of '15 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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