Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes
Published on April 15, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release
MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS (3-3) @ LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (1-4)
April 15th, 2011 -- 6:05 PM
@ Lynchburg City Stadium
LHP Robbie Erlin (0-0, 6.75) vs. RHP Arodys Vizcaino (1-0, 3.60)
THE HILLCATS: Thursday the Hillcats lost 3-1 to the Salem Red Sox...It was their fourth defeat in a row as they were victims of a three game sweep in Salem Tuesday through Thursday and came up short in extras against the P-Nats last Sunday...The 'Cats' bats were quiet all week as they only tallied three runs of offense in the series...Lynchburg now sits in fourth place in the Carolina League Northern Division at 1-4...
VS. MYRTLE BEACH: The Hillcats bested the Pelicans 11 games to nine in 2010...However, it should be noted that Myrtle Beach was the Advanced-A Atlanta Braves affiliate in 2010, 14 of the current Hillcats donned a Pelican uniform last season...Meanwhile, Myrtle Beach is now affiliated with the Texas Rangers whose previous Advance-A team played in the California League a year ago...
LIFE'S HARD ON THE ROAD: Lynchburg opened up their season on the road this year...Six games turned into five after last Friday's opener in Potomac was rained out... The Hillcats finished the road trip 1-4, as they look forward to their home opener tonight at City Stadium...
FALLING BEHIND: The Hillcats have yet to score first in each of their first five games...The 'Cats were able to come back from a 2-0 deficit last Saturday in Potomac, winning 6-5, and erased 3 separate deficits in Sunday's game against the P-Nats before falling 7-6 in extras; however, Lynchburg was shut out Tuesday in Salem, and after equalizing a 2-0 Salem lead on Wednesday and a 1-0 Salem lead on Thursday, the 'Cats ultimately fell in both contests...
YOU DON'T SCORE UNTIL YOU SCORE: Lynchburg batters were 0-for-21 with runners in scoring position in three games against Salem this week...The team is now hitting just .095 (4-for-42) on the season in that situation...The Hillcats stranded 20 baserunners in the Salem series while plating just three runs, none of which were earned...
AHHH, THIS TEAM IS JUST RIGHT: In 2011 the Hillcats begin their first season as the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Atlanta Braves...The Braves are the third different team in three seasons to serve as the parent club for the 'Cats...Lynchburg was the High A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds in 2010 after a 15-year relationship with the Pittsburgh Pirates ended after the 2009 campaign...The Braves are the tenth different Major League team that has been the parent club to Lynchburg...Prior to the Reds arrival in 2010, Lynchburg had only been affiliated with three different teams over a 34-year span (New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates)...
BEST OF THE BRAVOS: Eight members of the Hillcats are ranked amongst the top 30 prospects in the Braves organization according to Baseball America...That list includes RHP Arodys Vizcaino (7), SS Andrelton Simmons (15), RHP David Hale (17), RHP Dimasther Delgado (18), OF Todd Cunningham (20), OF Adam Milligan (22), INF Joe Leonard (23) and 2B Phil Gosselin (25)...Vizcaino was tabbed the 93rd best prospect in all of baseball by BA as well...
DOWN BUT NOT OUT: The Hillcats 2011 Manager Luis Salazar will make his triumphant return to managing tonight in the Hillcats home opener...Rick Albert filled in as Interim Manager for the first five games of the season...Salazar was struck in the head with a foul ball on March 9 while watching a spring training game...He is still recovering from three different surgeries he had to undergo following the incident, including a procedure that removed his left eye...
FAMILIAR LANDSCAPES: Of the 27 players on the Hillcats roster, 18 have played for the Danville Braves (Rookie affiliate of the Braves) at one point and five of those played for Danville last season...Pitching coach Derek Botelho and hitting coach Bobby Moore have also spent time in Danville as a coach...In addition, 14 of the current Hillcats played in the Carolina League for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Advanced-A affiliate of the Braves prior to this season) a year ago...
UNTOUCHABLE CRIM SCENE: RHP Matt Crim has the most innings without allowing a hit so far this season on the Hillcats...In two appearances, Crim has thrown 2.1 ip of hitless baseball...He has also inherited four runners, allowing just one to score and that run was unearned due to a booted ball at third base in Potomac with the bases loaded and two outs; Crim had induced an infield pop-up the batter before as he came into the game with the bases full and one out...
I COME FROM A LAND DOWN UNDER: RHP Andrew Russell joined the team Thursday in Salem... The 26 year-old, who was signed by the Braves in February, hails from Melbourne, Australia. He played outfield and catcher for the Melbourne Aces, where he was 2nd in the ABL in BA, 4th in RBIs and tied for 5th in HRs...While this is his first affiliated experience, it isn't his first time playing baseball in the US, as he attended Texarkana Junior College, and led them to the 2005 JUCO World Series.
TONIGHT'S OPPOSING PITCHER: LHP Robbie Erlin was a 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft out of Scotts Valley (CA) HS...Coming into this season, he was rated by Baseball America as the Rangers 4th best minor-league prospect...Spent all of 2010 with Hickory...Led the SAL in ERA (2.12) and K/BB ratio (7.4)...Had the lowest WHIP (0.92) and was 3rd in ERA among qualifying starters in the entire minor leagues...Opponents hit .213 against him...named to South Atlantic League All-Star Game...
Carolina League Stories from April 15, 2011
- Rocks Take Home Opener With Dramatic Comeback - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Keys Win Third Straight and End Salem Winning Streak - Frederick Keys
- Family of four can take in a night of Myrtle Beach baseball for $54 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Dash Rallies Late to Take Home Opener - Winston-Salem Dash
- Solid Rosenbaum Start Wasted in First Road Loss - Potomac Nationals
- Winston-Salem Gets by Kinston 5-3 - Kinston Indians
- Erlin throws six sparkling frames, Birds break out with four-run ninth - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Hillcats fall in home opener - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Home Opener Dash Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
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