Hillcats split doubleheader
August 29, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release
Lynchburg took game one 2-1, before falling 9-7 in the second game of a twin bill at Wake Forest Baseball Park on Saturday night. Chase d'Arnaud had five hits on the night, including his fourth homer of the season for the Hillcats.
The Dash started the scoring in the twin bill with a run in the bottom of the first in game one. Brent Morel smacked a two-out single to plate the first run of the night.
The Hillcats responded with a run in the top of the second on the eighth home run of the season by Matt Hague. It was the second home run in as many games, his third in five games and his fourth against Winston-Salem this season for the first baseman.
The score stayed tied at one until the top of the seventh inning when Lynchburg plated a run to take the lead for good. Chase d'Arnaud, who matched his career-high with four hits in game one, doubled to start the inning and scored on the sacrifice fly by Jordy Mercer.
R.J. Rodriguez tossed a scoreless seventh inning to preserve the 2-1 win and earn his league-leading 27th save of the season. He is now just two saves short of tying the all-time single-season mark for the Hillcats.
The win went to Matt McSwain (11-8), who pitched four scoreless innings of relief and has now worked 11 consecutive scoreless frames, all against Winston-Salem. Lynchburg (25-36, 70-60) guaranteed themselves a winning record with the game one win. It marks the first time since 2005 that the Cats will have a record over .500. The loss went to Nate Jones (1-1) for Winston-Salem (29-31, 67-61).
In game two the Dash again brought in a run in the bottom of the first with the aid of an error by the Hillcats. That was the first of three errors for Lynchburg that led to three unearned runs on the night.
The Cats came back in the second inning with three runs thanks to a three-run homer by Eric Fryer make it a 3-1 contest.
In the third inning though Winston-Salem would plate six runs to take a 7-3 lead. Salvador Sanchez, Seth Loman and Joe Persichina all drove-in runs for the Dash in the frame. The Hillcats walked three in the inning and committed two more errors.
Another run scored with a solo home run by Seth Loman in the fourth inning put the Dash lead up to five. Lynchburg would rally though with four runs in the fifth inning on the strength of a pair of two-run homers. The first belonged to d'Arnaud and the second was by Mercer. It was the first time all season the Hillcats have homered twice in the same inning and it pulled them within one at 8-7.
An RBI groundout by Dale Mollenhaur brought in an insurance run in the fifth inning to finish the scoring with Winston-Salem leading 9-7.
The win went to Charlis Birdie (3-1) and the save was notched by Santo Luis (14) for Winston-Salem (30-31, 68-61). The loss went to starter Bryan Morris (4-8) for Lynchburg (25-37, 70-61).
The series concludes on Sunday night at 5:00 p.m. at Wake Forest Baseball Park with the rubber match in this set. Right-hander Nate Adcock (3-1) will get the start for the Cats and you can catch all the live action beginning at 4:40 p.m. on KD Country 105.5 FM and the Hillcats Radio Network.
Carolina League Stories from August 29, 2009
- Hillcats split doubleheader - Lynchburg Hillcats
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- Nats Epic Comeback Falls Short in Kinston - Potomac Nationals
- Wilmington Allows Three-Run Advantage to Slip Away - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Red Sox Overcome 3-0 Deficit to Knock Off Blue Rocks Saturday Night - Salem Red Sox
- Cody Johnson provides the power in a losing effort - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Dash Split Doubleheader with Hillcats - Winston-Salem Dash
- P-Nats Game Notes for August 29 - Potomac Nationals
- Hillcats Game Notes for August 29 - Lynchburg Hillcats
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