CarL1 Lynchburg Hillcats

Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes

Published on July 17, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release


LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (7-15, 37-55) vs. POTOMAC NATIONALS (14-8, 43-48)

July 17th, 2011 -- 6:05 PM

Pfitzer Stadium

RHP Aaron Shafer (2-2, 2.66) vs. RHP Paul Demny (6-7, 4.48)

THE HILLCATS: Saturday, the ‘Cats beat the Winston-Salem Dash 6-2...A five-run rally in the sixth in which the Hillcats batted all nine in the order put them over the top for good, after a two-run homer for Dash shortstop Tyler Saladino had given Winston-Salem the early lead...The Hillcats currently sit in fourth place in the Northern Division at 7-15, 7.0 games back of the Potomac Nationals...

VS. POTOMAC: The Hillcats are 7-5 against the Nationals this season...They last met in Lynchburg last weekend, where in the series finale the Nationals fell behind 8-1after three innings bu went on to win the ball game 11-10...The road team is 9-3 in the season series...Last year, Potomac took the season series 11-8 from Lynchburg...The former Braves Advanced-A affiliate, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, fared even worse dropping 14 of 20 to the Nationals a season ago...

NOW BATTING: Due to some unusual circumstances Saturday night in Lynchburg, the Hillcats saw two of their pitchers see time in the batter's box...The events leading to this happening started before the first pitch was thrown...OF Adam Milligan scheduled to DH was scratched from the lineup late, and C Shawn McGill was inserted...Then in the fourth inning, starting catcher Christian Bethancourt was ejected for arguing balls and strike behind home plate...McGill moved to catcher and he DH was lost...Starting pitcher Blaine Sims came up in Bethancourt's spot in the fifth, before being pinch-hit for in the sixth...Then in eighth, with Milligan unavailable and Joe Leonard having spent the previous night in the hospital for precautionary reasons (chest pains), Andrew Russell was brought in from the bullpen to pinch-hit for fellow reliever Andrew Wilson...Sims grounded out to the pitcher, while Russell struck out swinging on a change-up...

SNAPPING THE SKID: Last night, on the verge of being swept in a four-game series for the first time all year, the Hillcats strung together a five-run sixth to carry them to victory...The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the team, which had tied for the second-longest all season, last reached May 17-21...The win also snapped a personal slide for starting pitcher Blaine Sims who was 0-4 over his last five starts for the Hillcats before earning the win last night after tossing six innings and allowing just two runs...

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 214 free passes, which is 52 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...

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)...

SIMMERING HOT JULY: After posting his season worst statistics in June, SS Andrelton Simmons has been on fire so far in July...He has hit safely in 13 of 14 July contests with seven multi-hit games and is currently on a seven game hit-streak...He's hitting .370 with eight runs scored and three runs driven in this month after posting a season-worst .258 clip in the month of June...

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 Paul Demny was selected in the sixth round of the 2008 draft by the Nationals out of Blinn (TX) Junior College...Pitched solely in relief in college, but converted to a starter for the GCL Nationals...Had a 2.3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2009...Faced the Hillcats three times this season...Gave up six runs, five earned, on seven hits in two and two-thirds innings pitched in loss on May 22...Gave up six runs, all earned, on six hits, in four innings pitched in loss on May 28...Gave up seven runs in just one and two-thirds innings pitched on July 11...Currently 6-7 with a 4.48 ERA...

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