CarL1 Lynchburg Hillcats

Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes

June 5, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release


THE HILLCATS: Saturday, the Hillcats beat the Myrtle Beach Pelicans 8-6...Hillcats first baseman Geraldo Rodriguez put the ‘Cats on top 5-4 with a two-run homer in the sixth...He went deep again in the seventh giving the Hillcats a crucial insurance run as they led 8-4 heading into the ninth...RHP Matthew Frevert pitched a perfect eighth but hit a snag in the ninth, allowing two Pelican runs but settled down and finished the game, securing the 8-6 Lynchburg win...The Hillcats sit in third place in the Carolina League Northern Division, now 8.5 games back of the first place Frederick Keys...

VS. MYRTLE BEACH: The Hillcats are 3-5 against the Pelicans this season...The road team is 6-2 in the season series so far, after the Hillcats defeated the Pelicans at City Stadium for the first time this season last night...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 8-15 at City Stadium, good for a .348 winning percentage, second-worst in the league only to the Potomac Nationals, who are 5-13 (.278)...Winning last night against Myrtle Beach, Lynchburg is now 1-2 on their current eight-game homestand...While wearing their home whites the team is 6-12; they're 2-2 wearing alternate green uniforms at home and 0-2 when wearing auction jerseys after losing Friday night in black Braves uniforms and May 21 in pink Breast Cancer Awareness uniforms...

THE ‘CATS CAN BAT: Last night, the Hillcats tallied 13 hits including two long balls from Geraldo Rodriguez, and scored eight runs on their way to victory...This, after after being held to two or less runs in back-to-back games for the first time since April 23-25, when they were held to two or less in three straight games...Lynchburg is now hitting .266 on the season, 10 points higher than the next best clip (Myrtle Beach, .256)...The ‘Cats are second in home runs (43), second in doubles (115), first in triples (18), and not surprisingly they lead the league in slugging percentage at .420...They also boast the fewest strikeouts (361)....

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)...

G-ROD VU: OF Geraldo Rodriguez (playing first base last night) went deep twice last night against the Pelicans... It was his first multi-home run game since May 7, 2010, while he was playing for Myrtle Beach (2010 Advanced-A affiliate for the Braves)...As fate would have it, Rodriguez was playing at City Stadium against the Hillcats that day when he launched two balls over the wall...He now has five home runs for the Hillcats in 17 games this season, giving him a combined eight bombs on the year with the three he hit for AA-Mississippi...Rodriguez ranked fourth in the Braves organization last year with 13 home runs...

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 .343 (23-for-67...He has a hit in 14 of 18 games since coming back, with eight multi-hit games...Has driven in 15 runs, scored 11, and hit three home runs in those 18 contests...He now has eight long balls on the year...His batting average has risen by .52 points to .276 (42-for-152)...Had his first two-walk game Monday, he's drawn eight free passes since coming back, after having just two before the injury...His on-base percentage has gone from .247 to .331...He's now fourth in the league in slugging percentage at .533...

LET HIM SIMMER: INF Andrelton Simmons brought his average up to .311 on May 1 after going 3-for-4 in the midst of a season best 13-game hitting streak...Has kept it above .300 ever since, currently hitting .308...Today, Simmons is not in the starting lineup for the first time since May 10...

TONIGHT'S OPPOSING PITCHER : LHP Robbie Ross was selected in the second round of the 2008 draft out of Lexington Christian Academy (KY)...Split time between Hickory and Bakersfield in 2010...Combined to go 12-11 with a 3.58 ERA and 111 strikeouts...Recorded the second most victories and had the fourth lowest ERA in the Texas minor league system...Selected as the starting pitcher for the North Division in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game...Has made two starts, on 4/17 and 5/14 against the Hillcats...Has pitched 12 shutout innings combined in the two starts, while striking out 10...Currently 6-1 with a 2.48 ERA this season...

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Carolina League Stories from June 5, 2011


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