CarL1 Lynchburg Hillcats

Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes

Published on June 3, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release


MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS (31-22) @ LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (23-29)

June 3rd, 2011 -- 7:05 PM

Calvin Falwell Field at Lynchburg City Stadium

RHP Justin Grimm (1-0, 1.50) vs. RHP Willie Kempf (3-3, 7.36)

THE HILLCATS: Thursday, the Hillcats lost 3-2 to the Salem Red Sox, splitting the four-game series 2-2...The 'Cats committed a costly error in the sixth that led to what would eventually be the winning run scoring...They also were caught stealing third base twice with runners at first and second with one out in the fifth and seventh innings, squandering a couple prime opportunities to score...A two-out run in the ninth brought the 'Cats within one but they could not complete the comeback falling 3-2...The Hillcats sit in third place in the Carolina League Northern Division, now 7.5 games back of the first place Frederick Keys...

VS. MYRTLE BEACH: The Hillcats are 2-4 against the Pelicans this season...The road team is 5-1 in the season series so far...The Hillcats were swept in three games their home opening weekend April 15-17, but took two of three in Myrtle may 13-15...Last season, the Pelicans were the Braves Advance-A affiliate...Nine active members of the Hillcats spent at least some time with Myrtle Beach in 2010...The Pelicans are now the Texas Rangers Advanced-A affiliate, moved from Bakersfield in the California League a season ago...

ROAD WARRIORS: Lynchburg had their most successful road trip of the season this past week finishing 6-1 after traveling to Potomac for four games, and then to Salem for three more...The lone loss was suffered Monday afternoon in Salem, when Red Sox catcher Dan Butler hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Hillcats 7-6...The 'Cats swept the Nationals in Potomac over the weekend...It was their first sweep of the season, and first four-game winning streak all year...Now 16-15, Lynchburg boasts a winning record on the road...

AT HOME HOWEVER...: The 'Cats have been dreadful at home this season, currently 7-14 at City Stadium, good for a .333 winning percentage, second-worst in the league only to the Potomac Nationals, who are 5-13 (.278)...Losing last night to Salem, Lynchburg is now 1-4 on opening games of homestands...While wearing their home whites the team is 5-12; they're 2-2 wearing alternate green uniforms at home and 0-1 when wearing auction jerseys (Breast Cancer Awareness Night, 5/21)...

THE 'CATS CAN BAT: Last night was a down night for the offense, only scoring two runs, but the Hillcats still racked up eight hits...Lynchburg is now hitting .266 on the season, 11 points higher than the next best clip (Myrtle Beach, .255)...The 'Cats are second in home runs (41), second in doubles (107), first in triples (18), and not surprisingly they lead the league in slugging percentage at .417...They also boast the fewest strikeouts (345)....

BEST OF THE BRAVOS: Seven members of the Hillcats are ranked amongst the top 30 prospects in the Braves organization according to Baseball America...That list includes 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)...

CAVALIER IN THE CLUTCH: INF Phil Gosselin went 2-for-5 Wednesday night driving in three runs for the Hillcats...His first RBI tied the game with two outs in the top of the ninth, which forced extra innings...The next two came with two outs in the 11th, and would prove to be the game winning runs, as the 'Cats held on to win 9-7...Gosselin also drove in the go-ahead run Monday afternoon in Salem in the 9th inning, but the Hillcats went on to blow that lead in the bottom of the frame...Against Salem the past four days, Gosselin went 5-for-15 with six RBI, four runs scored, a double, and his fifth triple of the season (third-most in the league)...He's now hit safely in 10 of his past 12 games and has an RBI in eight of those 12 contests...Batting .419 (18-for-43) in that stretch, he has raised his batting average from .234 to .276...

WHAT A TRIP: INF Joey Terdoslavich has 14 multi-hit games this season, and five came over the Hillcats' seven-game road trip this past week...After going 1-for-6 Wednesday with a run scored, he finished the trip 12-for-28 (.429) with a home run and six runs driven in...Hitting safely in 10 of his last 12 now, he has raised his batting average from .246 to .269...He hit .304 (31-for-102) in May after hitting .243 (17-for-70) in April...He snapped a four-game hitting streak after going 0-for-4 last night at home against Salem...

BACK WITH A VENGEANCE: OF Adam Milligan was hitting just .224 (19-for-85) before hitting the disabled list with a pulled hamstring, which he injured on May 7...Since returning to action May 18, he's hitting .333 (20-for-60...He has a hit in 12 of 16 games since coming back, with seven multi-hit games...Has driven in 14 runs, scored 11, and hit three home runs in those 16 contests...He now has eight long balls on the year, tied for fifth most in the League...His batting average has risen by .45 points to .269 (39-for-145)...Had his first two-walk game Monday, he's drawn seven free passes since coming back, after having just two before the injury...His on-base percentage has gone from .247 to .323...

TONIGHT'S OPPOSING PITCHER : RHP Justin Grimm was selected in the fifth round of the 2010 draft by the Rangers out of the University of Georgia...He did not play professionally in 2010 after signing his contract in August...Went 3-7 with a 5.49 ERA for UGA in 2010...Recorded a team high 73 strikeouts in 77 innings pitched...Started nine games for Low-A Hickory this season, going 2-1 with a 3.40 ERA...Was called up May 27...Currently 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA for Myrtle Beach...

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Carolina League Stories from June 3, 2011


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