CarL1 Lynchburg Hillcats

Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes

Published on July 16, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release


WINSTON-SALEM DASH (11-10, 43-48) vs LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (6-15, 36-55) July 16th, 2011 -- 6:05 PM Calvin Falwell Field at Lynchburg City Stadium RHP Jake Petricka (0-3, 6.35) vs LHP Blaine Sims (2-4, 3.08)

THE HILLCATS: Friday, the ‘Cats lost to the Winston-Salem Dash 4-1...Two infield errors behind RHP Zeke Spruill led to three unearned runs in the fifth...Spruill managed to get out of the fifth and pitch into the eighth but after another error and a walk, he was relieved with two on and one out...The ‘Cats tallied eight hits, twice that of the Dash, but their only run came on a solo shot from Adam Milligan in the sixth...The Hillcats currently sit in fourth place in the Northern Division at 6-15, 6.5 games back of the Potomac Nationals...

VS. WINSTON-SALEM: The Hillcats are 3-9 against the Dash this season...The home team is 7-5 this year...Lynchburg has lost the last six meetings in a row, and are on the verge of being swept in a four-game series for the first time this season...Winston-Salem took the season series 16-4 against the Hillcats in 2010...However, the Hill-City has welcomed a new affiliate in the Atlanta Braves this year...Last season the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (2010 Braves Advance-A affiliate) nearly split the season series with the Dash taking nine games of 20...

SINKING FAST: Over the last 10 games, the Hillcats have scored 30 runs, averaging an even three runs per game...However, 18 of those 30 runs came in just two of those games, and the ‘Cats lost one of the two 11-10...Remove those two games and the Hillcats are averaging 1.5 runs per game over the other eight contests...They are 1-9 over their last 10 after a respectable 5-6 start to the second half...At 6-15, the Hillcats have managed to get out to worse start to the second half than the first when they began 1-10...Since the break, Lynchburg has been held to three or less runs in 12 of 21 games...They have been shut out four times...Yet, they still rank second (.261) in team batting average only behind Myrtle Beach (.265) and lead the league in slugging (.402)...

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE: While Lynchburg may rank second in the league in hitting, 10 points higher than any other team besides the league leading Pelicans, their on-base percentage ranks fifth, leaving much to be desired....Last night the ‘Cats drew two walks...So far this season the Hillcats have taken 212 free passes, which is 49 fewer walks than any other team in the league...The lack of patience hasn't led to strikeouts however, as Lynchburg still boasts the second fewest strikeouts as well, but it may be affecting run production...The ‘Cats rank sixth in runs scored this year...

COMING UP FIVES: Lynchburg lost their 55th game of the season, and 15th of the second half last night...Coming into tonight they're at risk of losing their fifth straight for the first time since May 17-22...On the mound for the Hillcats will be LHP Blaine Sims, who is also trying not to lose his fifth straight decision...He's 0-4 over his last four starts despite not giving up more than three runs in any but one of those appearances...

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)...

FIRST GAME'S A WARM-UP: OF Adam Milligan returned from his second stint on the disabled list last Monday...He went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts while his teammates put up 10 runs...Shaking off the rust, Milligan has hit safely in each of his last three since the 0-for-5 night...He's 6-for-12 with an RBI in each game, and a home run last night...This pattern mirrors his first return from the DL back in May...He went 0-for-4 in his first game back from the DL May 18 this season, before going on a tear that saw his average jump from .213 to .287 over a two and a half week span...He had been on a 21-game on base streak when he hit the DL for a second time in late June...Now hitting .291 on the year, he ranks fourth in the Carolina League...

THIS JUST IN: RHP Mark Lamm joined the Hillcats from Rookie-level Danville Wednesday...Lamm is the first 2011 draftee to reach the Advanced-A level for the Braves...Drafted in the sixth round this season out of Vanderbilt, Lamm made two appearances with Danville, hitting one batter and striking out four while allowing no hits, no walks, and no runs through two single inning outings...In his Carolina League debut Wednesday night, Lamm struck out the side in order, including the top two home run hitters in the league, All-Stars Ian Gac and Andy Wilkins...Lamm takes the roster spot of C Braeden Schlehuber, who was just called up to AA Mississippi...

TONIGHT'S OPPOSING PITCHER: RHP Jake Petricka was a second round pick in the 2010 draft by the White Sox out of Indiana State University...Entered the 2011 season ranked as the seventh best prospect in the White Sox organization by Baseball America...Split 2010 between Bristol and Kannapolis after signing...Rated by Baseball America as having the best fastball in the White Sox 2010 draft class...Was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week April 18 of this season...Went 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA in eight starts for Kannapolis...Called up to Winston-Salem June 27...Currently 0-3 with a 6.35 ERA in three starts for Winston-Salem...

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Carolina League Stories from July 16, 2011


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