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Lynchburg Hillcats

Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes

June 30, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release


LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (2-4, 32-44) vs. FREDERICK KEYS (3-3, 44-32)

June 30th, 2011 -- 7:05 PM

Calvin Falwell Field at Lynchburg City Stadium

LHP Nick Haughian (4-4, 4.58) vs LHP Blaine Sims (2-1, 2.45)

THE HILLCATS: Last night, the Hillcats beat the Frederick Keys 5-3...Geraldo Rodriguez delivered the knock-out blow with a go-ahead two-run home run over the scoreboard in left field in the bottom of the eighth inning, which put the 'Cats up 5-3...LHP Ryan Buchter came in for Lynchburg in the ninth and recorded his fifth save of the season...The Hillcats currently sit in fourth place in the Northern Division at 2-4, 0.5 games back of the Frederick Keys, Potomac Nationals, and Wilmington Blue Rocks all tied for first...

VS. FREDERICK: The Hillcats are 6-5 against the Keys this season...Lynchburg snapped their season-high 10-game losing streak (4/10-4/20) in their first meeting with the Keys back on April 21...The 'Cats took that first series 3-1, but have dropped the last two series' 2-1...Last season, Lynchburg lost the season series to Frederick 8-12...Myrtle Beach (2010 Braves Advance-A affiliate) split the series with Frederick 10-10...

STREAK SHREDDED: Lynchburg and Frederick were tied 3-3 after six innings of play last night, when both teams went to their bullpen...The Keys had to be feeling pretty good sending RHP Clay Schrader to the mound who hadn't given up a run since April 19...After an inning an two-thirds last night without allowing a run, his scoreless inning streak reached 31...Then, with two outs and a man at first, Geraldo Rodriguez broke up a 3-3 tie with home run to left...The blast turned out to be the game winner...

STARTING FRESH: Hillcats starters posted a 4.17 ERA and a losing record of 21-28 in the first half...Last night was the first game in which a Lynchburg starter had surrendered more than two runs (Spruill, 3 ER)...Through six games in the second half, the rotation has only allowed 10 runs, nine earned, through 34.1 innings, good for a 2.36 ERA, and are 1-1...The rotation to start the second half has three new faces from the rotation that started the season...RHP Aaron Shafer (free agent signing), LHP Blaine Sims (Low-A Rome call-up/bullpen conversion), and LHP Chris Masters (started season in Lynchburg bullpen)...

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 C Christian Bethancourt (12), 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)...

THE GREEN & GOLDEN GOOSE: INF Phil Gosselin went 3-for-4 last night with a double, two RBI, and a run scored...The three-hit effort was his 22nd multi-hit game of the year, which leads the Hillcats squad...So far in the second half, he hitting .350 (7-for-20) with three doubles and four RBI...His 39 RBI on the season lead the team...Consistent all season, Gosselin has driven in 10 or more runs in April, May, and June...Currently on a three-game hit-streak, 6-for-11, with two doubles and three RBI...Now hitting .279, good for 10th in the league...

DEJA VU: On May 7 in Winston-Salem, OF Adam Milligan injured his hamstring running down a ball hit down the line in right field...He would exit the game and eventually land on the disabled list for a week...Sunday night, legging out a double, Milligan did it again...He remained in the game and was tagged out on the bases trying to advance to third, but would not re-enter...In both games, OF Keenan Wiley has replaced Milligan and done quite well, Wiley finished 3-for-3 with an RBI back on May 7, and went 1-for-2 last night with a double...

STREAKING 'CATS: INF Joe Leonard extended his current hit-streak to a season-high seven games last night...He went 1-for-4 with a strikeout and is now 8-for-27 during the streak with three doubles and four RBI...OF Geraldo Rodriguez went 1-for-4 last night as well, his one hit, the game-winning homer...He is also on a seven-game hitting streak, 8-for-24, with a home run, two doubles and six RBI...OF Adam Milligan hasn't played since Sunday night but currently holds a career-high 10-game hitting streak...Milligan is 13-for-36 over his past 10, hitting .286 on the season, tied for seventh in the league...

SPRUILL NOTES: RHP Zeke Spruill has been the only constant in the Hillcats staff this year, as the only starter from the opening day rotation, not to miss a start due to injury or performance...His 16 games started and 101 innings pitched lead the league...Also ranks third in WHIP (1.00)...He surrendered more than one run in a start for the first time since June 7 last night, and walked more than one for just the third time all year...Completed six innings, allowing just three runs, but wouldn't factor into the decision...He finishes June with a 2.31 ERA in six starts, coming off six starts in May in which he posted a disappointing 5.27 ERA...

228 AT-BATS LATER: INF Phil Gosselin homered in his eighth at-bat of the season, April 10 in Potomac...He was the first Hillcat to go deep in 2011...He went his next 228 at-bats with out a home run, before launching a three-run shot Friday June 17 off Kinston reliever Francisco Jimenez in the sixth inning...In between home runs he had 62 hits, including 16 doubles, and a team leading five triples...

TONIGHT'S OPPOSING PITCHER: LHP Nick Haughian was selected in the ninth round of the 2008 draft out of the University of Washington...Spent all of 2010 with Delmarva...Finished second among Delmarva pitchers in strikeouts (90)...He was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 6-12...Faced the Hillcats once this season, pitching seven shutout innings on June 10, giving up only three hits and striking out nine...Currently 4-4 with a 4.38 ERA...

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