Late Rally Leads Hillcats to 11-6 Win
Published on April 7, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release
Woodbridge, VA - The Lynchburg Hillcats scored seven runs in the final two innings this afternoon on their way to an 11-6 come back win over the Potomac Nationals. Robby Hefflinger led the offense with two home runs, his second and third of the season. William Beckwith chimed in with a two-run shot in the ninth inning as well. The win gave the Hillcats the series win 2-1 over the Nationals opening weekend.
Hefflinger launched a blast out to center field to leadoff the second inning. Fernando De Los Santos and Cory Brownsten added RBI-doubles later in the frame and the Hillcats led early 3-0.
The Nationals battled back with two runs in the bottom of the second. Adrian Sanchez tripled in Cutter Dykstra who drew his first of three walks on the day. Then, Blake Kelso doubled home Snachez. The Hillcats lead was cut one run.
It was another short outing for a Hillcat starter. Mark Pope lasted just 3.2 innings. He gave up three runs on six hits, walked four and struck out two. Pope gave up an RBI-single to Caleb Ramsey in the fourth inning and then walked a batter before being relieved by James Hoyt. Hoyt retired his only batter in the fourth to get out of the inning with the score tied 3-3.
Hoyt went on to give up two runs in the fifth inning. Jason Martinson homered to lead off the inning and walked the next three batters in a row. The first walk scored on a wild pitch, but a strikeout, and a 1-6-3 double play ended the inning without any more runs scoring. The Nationals led 5-3.
The Hillcats and Nationals traded runs in the sixth to make it 6-4.
Down by two heading into the eighth inning, the Hillcats came back with three runs to regain the lead. Elmer Reyes delivered the go ahead RBI, with a two-run double to left-center field. Then, in the ninth, Hefflinger and Beckwith each ht two-run homers to give the Hillcats some breathing room. The 'Cats led 11-6.
Matt Chaffee (1-0) earned the win for Lynchburg tossing the last 2.1 innings. He walked one and struck out three, without allowing any hits or runs. Derek Self (0-1) suffered the loss giving up four runs, three earned on three hits. He walked two and struck out one.
The Hillcats are now 2-1 on the season and sit in second place behind the 3-0 Frederick Keys in the Carolina League Northern Division.
After an off-day tomorrow. Lynchburg will be back in action at home Tuesday night at City Stadium when the Myrtle Beach Pelicans come to town. It's the home opener for the Hillcats, which means the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive an Opening Day Hillcats pennant presented by the Express Lane and WROV. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05pm. The gates will open at 5pm. On the mound for the Hillcats will be RHP Ryan Weber (0-0, -) against RHP Alec Asher (0-0, 18.00). If you can't make it to the ballpark, tune in to the live play-by-play broadcast with Erik Wilson and Jake Levy on 97.9 FM The Planet. The Hillcats On-Deck Show powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg will go on the air at 5:40pm.
Carolina League Stories from April 7, 2013
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- Nationals Fall to Hillcats 10-3 - Potomac Nationals
- Davis' Blasts Send Keys to 3-1 Walk-Off Win, Series Sweep - Frederick Keys
- Late Rally Leads Hillcats to 11-6 Win - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Mudcats Deal Dash First Sweep Since 2011 - Winston-Salem Dash
- Mudcats Complete Sweep of Dash - Carolina Mudcats
- Davis Launches Frederick to Series Sweep - Salem RidgeYaks
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
- Pelicans blank Blue Rocks 5-0 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Bolinger's walk-off lifts Pelicans - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Offense Sputters as Rocks Drop Second Straight - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Offense Sputters as Rocks Drop Second Straight - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Huge Lynchburg Comeback Upends Potomac's Strong Start - Potomac Nationals
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