CarL1 Hill City Howlers

Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes

Published on May 8, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Hill City Howlers News Release


LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (16-13) vs. MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS (18-13)

May 8th, 2013 -- 7:05 PM

TicketReturn.com Field

RHP Navery Moore (2-3, 6.53) vs. RHP Nick Martinez (2-2, 2.60)

THE HILLCATS: Lost to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans 3-1 last night...Neither team scored until the seventh inning, as neither starter surrendered a run and took no-decisions...RHP Greg Ross went five scoreless for Lynchburg, and RHP Alec Asher went six scoreless for the Pelicans...The first run came from the 'Cats...Three consecutive two out singles, combined with an errant throw to first base on the final single gave the Hillcats a 1-0 lead...Then, in the bottom of the seventh, C Kellin Deglan hit a three-run homer to put the Pelicans on top 3-1...The Hillcats fell to 16-13 still in second place in the Northern Division behind the Frederick Keys...

VS. MYRTLE BEACH: The Hillcats are 2-2 against the Pelicans, winning the first series in Lynchburg in April...The series has been dominated by pitching as the Hillcats are batting just .195 and the Pelicans have posted a .179 clip...In the first three game series, the bullpens only allowed one run each, however, last night, all four runs scored off the bullpens...

THE BULLPEN BLEW IT, NO BS: A member of the Lynchburg bullpen took a loss last night for just the fourth time this season...For the first time however, the reliever gave up a Hillcat lead...The first three losses were suffered by a reliever coming into a tie score...The 'Cats are the only team without a blown save in the Carolina League this season, and that stat stays in tact, as RHP Ryan Woolley was already in the game when the Hillcats took the lead in the seventh inning...He blew his own lead, so no blown save...The Hillcats did finally lose a lead later than the fifth inning this season...

WELCOME ADDITION: RHP Greg Ross made his first start of the season last night...It was his first appearance for the Hillcats after seven relief appearances with Low-A Rome...Ross was 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA with Rome...Off to a great start with Lynchburg, turning in five scoreless innings...He struck out a season-high five batters, only gave up two hits and walked no one...Ross was traded to the Tigers as part of the deal that brought Jeff Baker to the Braves last year...The Tigers then released Ross in March, and the Braves signed Ross again as a free agent...

ASHER TO ASHES: RHP Alec Asher was on point last night against the Hillcats...He struck out 11 Hillcats, becoming the second starter to accomplish that feat this season...LHP Tim Berry did the same April 17 in Frederick against the 'Cats...Both pitcher used six innings to get to 11 Ks...Asher's overall appearance was much better, only allowing two hits, walking one, and striking out eight of his last night batters in a no-decision...Berry took a loss giving up four earned runs on four hits...

TRUSTED HANDS: Lynchburg recorded a fourth consecutive error-free game last night...It's the longest streak of mistake free baseball for the 'Cats this year, and the first string of three games or more without a miscue...Prior to this stretch the Hillcats had led the league in errors ever since committing five on Opening Day...Now the Keys and Blue Rocks have more errors than the Hillcats...Lynchburg has recorded six error-less contests in their last eight games...SS Elmer Reyes was the last Hillcat to commit an error...It was in the ninth inning last Thursday night...

LIPKA BACK LEADING OFF: OF Matt Lipka returned to the leadoff spot for the first time since April 23 Sunday...He moved down in the order on April 25 and hit for the cycle from the seven slot...On his first day back in the leadoff role, he had a similarly successful day, going 3-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, two RBI, and two runs scored...He was hitting just .174 in the top spot prior to Sunday, but batted .323 (10-for-31) in nine games batting seventh or sixth...The night he hit for the cycle was the first night he had started in a spot lower than second in the lineup...With a single last night, Lipka is currently on a three-game hitting streak...That ties a season-best mark, his third three-game streak of the season...He has nine hits in his last seven games, and has scored seven runs...With three extra-base hits Sunday, his season total is 14 through 28 games, after tallying just eight in 51 games a year ago...

TONIGHT'S OPPOSING PITCHER: RHP Nick Martinez was drafted in the 18th round of the 2011 draft by the Rangers out of Fordham University in New York...Primarily a position player in college...Made five appearances on the mound his freshman year, none his sophomore year, and 10 appearances his junior year (1-3, 2.75, 3 SV)...Drafted as a pitcher by the Rangers...Made 15 appearances, 11 starts between the Arizona League Rangers and the Spokane Indians (Short-season A) after signing in 2011...Went 3-3 with a 2.30 ERA and struck out 56 in 58.2 innings...Spent 2012 with Low-A Hickory...Went 8-6 with a 4.83 ERA in 31 games, 20 starts...Struck out 109 in 117.1 frames...South Atlantic League All-Star...First start this year against Hillcats (4.1ip, 4h, 4er, 2bb, 3k)...Since, has given up just four earned runs in four starts (21.1 ip)...Interesting splits so far...He is 1-1 with a 0.73 ERA at home (3 games, 2 starts) versus 1-1 with a 4.11 ERA on the road (3 starts)...Each home appearance has been at night, while all three road starts have been during the day...The trend continues with a start under the lights at home tonight...

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