Hillcats Game Notes April 13, 2015, 7 p.m. at Frederick
Published on April 13, 2015 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Hill City Howlers News Release
LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (2-2) vs. FREDERICK KEYS (3-1)
Monday, April 13, 2015 -- 7 PM
Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium
LHP Luis Lugo (0-0, --) vs. RHP Sebastian Vader (0-0, --)
SAVING THEM UP FOR TOMORROW: The Hillcats have lost twice this year and failed to score a run in each defeat...Yesterday, Lynchburg had a baserunner in eight of its nine trips to the plate, but only twice had a man reach third base...2B Yhoxian Medina went 2-for-3, and RF Bradley Zimmer stole two bases in the contest, but the Hillcats fell to Potomac, 5-0, after producing a mere five hits in the contest...Last season, the Hillcats were only shut out six times total...
CLEAR THE FENCE, AND YOU'RE A WINNER: In all four games at Pfitzner Stadium, there was at least one home run, and the team that hit the homer won the game...Paul Hendrix hit an opposite field homer on Opening Day as part of an 8-6 Hillcats win...On Saturday, Jayson Werth's solo homer marked the difference in a 1-0 game to begin a doubleheader, while Bradley Zimmer homered to help guide Lynchburg to a 2-1 victory in the second contest Saturday...Yesterday, Isaac Ballou and Khayyan Norfork each hit solo home runs in the Potomac win...
VS. FREDERICK: The Hillcats went 12-8 against the Keys last season, which was their best record against another team in the league...The 'Cats started 2014 with a 6-1 record at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium but lost their final three games at Frederick...The Hillcats swept the Keys twice, once at home and once on the road, making up half of their sweeps last year...
WELCOME TO THE TRIBE! Lynchburg's 20th anniversary season of becoming the Hillcats will also mark its first as the Advanced-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians...Cleveland becomes the 11th Major League Baseball team to place an affiliate in Lynchburg, as City Stadium has previously been the host to affiliates of the St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves...Lynchburg's longest partnership lasted with the Pirates when Pittsburgh kept its affiliate in Lynchburg for 15 seasons from 1995 to 2009...
HEY, BUD: Mark Budzinski becomes the 18th manager in Lynchburg since the team adopted the Hillcats nickname in 1995...Considering that nearly averages to one per year, it's remarkable that Budzinski is actually the first manager other than Luis Salazar to hold the Lynchburg post since 2010...Salazar managed Lynchburg all four seasons that the Hillcats were affiliated with the Atlanta Braves...Salazar remains in the Carolina League for a fifth season, but now he is with the Braves' new affiliate, the Carolina Mudcats...
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 Saturday...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 13, 2015
- Garcia and the Mudcats Walk-Off Blue Rocks - Carolina Mudcats
- Heidenreich, Hagan Hold off P-Nats on Monday - Winston-Salem Dash
- P-Nats Fall One Run Short in Series Opener with Winston-Salem - Potomac Nationals
- Pelicans and Red Sox Series Opener Rained Out - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Red Sox and Pelicans Rained out on Monday - Salem RidgeYaks
- Carolina Mudcats Game Information - Carolina Mudcats
- Hillcats Game Notes April 13, 2015, 7 p.m. at Frederick - Hill City Howlers
- Winston-Salem Dash: Game Notes (April 13 at Potomac) - Winston-Salem Dash
- Opening Weekend Packed with Fun at BB&T Ballpark - Winston-Salem Dash
- Former Keys General Manager J. Keith Lupton Passes Away - Frederick Keys
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