Kinston Edges out Hillcats in Pitchers Duel
May 1, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release
Lynchburg, VA- Lynchburg starter Zeke Spruill pitched a gem of a game, but one pitch came back to haunt him as the Hillcats fell to the Kinston Indians, 3-1, Sunday afternoon.
The pitchers duel between Spruill and Drew Pomeranz lived up to its billing. Both pitchers gave up just one run in the first five innings. In the top of the second, Kinston's Abner Abreu led off with a single. After a line-out from Casey Frawley, Abreu stole second and third, allowing Adam Abraham to single him home and give the Indians a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, Shawn McGill led off with a grounder to Abraham, the third baseman for the Indians. The throw to first was high, and McGill advanced to second on the error. Two batters later, Andrelton Simmons singled to bring McGill home, tying the game.
Neither team would threaten again until the bottom of the sixth inning. Pomeranz issued his first walk of the game to the leadoff hitter, Todd Cunningham. Phil Gosselin followed with a ground ball to the shortstop, but hustled down the line to make sure the Indians infield could not turn a double play. Shawn McGill hit a bloop single to right, putting runners on first and second. Pomeranz then walked Joe Leonard to load the bases.
Indians manager Aaron Holbert came out of the dugout to bring a new pitcher into the game. Travis Turek came in, and had to face Simmons first. Simmons smashed a line drive, but unfortunately for the Hillcats, it was right at Abraham at third. Turek was then able to retire Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg on a groundout for the final out of the inning.
Spruill (1-2) had cruised through the middle innings after giving up his run in the second. He didn't give up a hit for four straight innings before getting to the seventh. Bo Greenwell led off the seventh with a double, and two batters later Abreu struck again, hitting a two-run home run to left field.
The Hillcats put runners on base in the seventh and eighth innings against Kinston's bullpen, but couldn't score any of them, and fell 3-1. Turek picked up the win in relief to improve his record to 3-0. Preston Guilmet worked the ninth to get his third save this season.
The Hillcats fell to 7-14, while the Indians pick up the win to move to 9-14 on the year.
Lynchburg starts a seven-game road trip on Monday, beginning with a three-game set in Wilmington. Lefty Chris Masters (2-0) is scheduled to pitch for Lynchburg, while Wilmington will send righty Tim Melville (2-2) to the mound. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. The Hillcats On-Deck Show presented by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg will go on the air at 6:10. Tune in to 105.5 KD Country or go to lynchburg-hillcats.com to listen live to all the action.
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Carolina League Stories from May 1, 2011
- Potomac Prevails 5-2 Behind Bronson - Salem Red Sox
- Pelicans Pitching Prevails in Finale - Frederick Keys
- Pelicans Lock Down Keys to Take Series - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Kinston Edges out Hillcats in Pitchers Duel - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Wilmington Uses Late Rally to Sweep Dash - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Kinston Takes Series from Lynchburg with a 3-1 Win - Kinston Indians
- Rocks Sweep Dash with Late Comeback - Winston-Salem Dash
- Potomac Nationals Game Notes - Potomac Nationals
- Myrtle Beach Pelicans Game Notes - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Salem Red Sox Game Notes - Salem Red Sox
- Kinston Indians Game Notes - Kinston Indians
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
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