Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes
Published on May 9, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Hill City Howlers News Release
LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (16-14) vs. MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS (19-13)
May 9th, 2013 -- 7:05 PM
TicketReturn.com Field
RHP James Hoyt (2-0, 1.78) vs. RHP Luke Jackson (3-1, 2.05)
THE HILLCATS: Lost to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans 8-2 last night...A two-run homer from 1B Trever Adams in the first inning put the Pelicans on top and they never trailed...SS Elmer Reyes and 2B Ross Heffley each drove in a run for the Hillcats, but the offense was stagnant again...The 'Cats were retired 1-2-3 six times in nine innings...Lynchburg used five pitchers and the only one not see a run cross the plate while they were on the mound was RHP Nate Hyatt, who threw a scoreless ninth...The Hillcats are now 16-14, still in second place in the Northern Division, two games back of the Frederick Keys...
VS. MYRTLE BEACH: The Hillcats are 2-3 against the Pelicans, winning the first series in Lynchburg 2-1 and dropping the first two game this week in Myrtle Beach...The run differential is even at 15-15 in five games...The series has been dominated by pitching with each team averaging just three runs per game...The Hillcats are batting just .194 and the Pelicans lifted their average from .179 to .212 with 11 hits last night...The 'Cats have now lost three straight meetings with the Pelicans...
BACK-TO-BACK LOSSES: Coming into the series in Myrtle Beach the Hillcats were 9-4 over their last 13 games, never losing back-to-back games...They have now dropped their first two of the series to the Pelicans, making for the first consecutive losses since dropping three in a row to the Salem Red Sox April 18-21, just before the 9-4 run...It's only the third time this season the 'Cats have lost back-to-back games this season...The first time was April 15-16 in Frederick...No losing "streak has spanned over multiple series for the Hillcats yet this season...
THE UPS AND DOWNS: RHP Navery Moore contiued a pattern he'd like to kick sooner rather than later last night...He allowed five runs, four earned, in 4.2 innings last night in his seventh start...He has now allowed at least five runs in every odd-numbered start this season...Meanwhile, in the evens he has surrendered two run or less each time...An ERA split of 11.65 to 2.00...He is 0-3 in odd starts and 2-1 in even starts...He's scheduled to pitch the finale in Carolina Monday night, due for his next great outing...
'CAT GOT YOUR BAT: The Hillcats are batting just .194 over their last five games, and that includes a 13-hit outburst Sunday against Wilmington...They are batting .144 (17-for-118) in the other four games...They have also racked up 45 strikeouts in their last five contests...OF Matt Lipka has been a rare bright spot during this stretch, batting .300 (6-for-20) with the team's only home run, tied for the most RBI with two, and he has scored four times...Also has three stolen bases...
DEFENSE STALLED: Lynchburg snapped a streak of four consecutive error-free games last night, committed three miscues on defense...Those errors led to a pair a unearned runs...It was 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...The team fielding percentage is now at .960 second-worst to Wilmington's .959...
HYATT ANOTHER LEVEL: RHP Nate Hyatt threw another scoreless inning last inning last night, continuing his scoreless streak to 12.1 consecutive innings...He has only allowed one earned run all season, and that came in his first appearance April 6 at Potomac...Since then he has turned in 10 straight scoreless outing, with a pair of two-inning appearances...Has 18 strikeouts in 13 innings this season and just three walks...All three of those walks came in the same appearance, two scoreless innings in Winston-Salem...Currently ranks fifth in batting average against (.156) for Carolina League relievers, fourth for strikeout per nine ratio (12.46), and fourth in fewest baserunners per nine (8.31)...
TONIGHT'S OPPOSING PITCHER: RHP Luke Jackson was drafted in the first round in 2010 (45th overall) by the Texas Rangers out of Calvary Christian High School (Clearwater, FL)...Was rated the 87th best player on ESPN.com's top 100 pre-draft list...Signed late for a reported $1.545 million, and didn't debut until 2011...Went straight to Low-A Hickory where he posted a 5-6 record and a 5.64 ERA in 19 starts (75 IP)...Started with Hickory again in 2012...Went 5-5 with a 4.92 ERA in 13 starts...Called up to Myrtle Beach in June...Made his first Carolina League start in Lynchburg June 25...Gave up two earned runs over five innings on seven hits and two walks, while striking out one...Took a no-decision...Overall, he went 5-2 with a 4.39 ERA in 13 starts...Can hit 97 mph with his fastball but sits 93-94...Struck out 224 batters in 205 innings his first two seasons, but also walked 113...Both ratios have stayed consistent between Low-A and Hi-A...He tossed five scoreless innings and struck out a still season-high seven April 11 in Lynchburg..He earned the win as the Pelicans blanked the 'Cats 2-0...His 2.05 ERA is sixth in the league, and his strikeout per nine ratio of 10.25 ranks fifth among Carolina League starters...
Carolina League Stories from May 9, 2013
- Salem Swept by Carolina in Doubleheader - Salem RidgeYaks
- Pelicans Bury Hillcats to Secure Series Sweep - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Hillcats Swept Away at the Beach - Hill City Howlers
- Timely Hits, Bullpen Key 'Cats Sweep of Salem Twin Bill - Carolina Mudcats
- Wild Pitches Propel Potomac's Series Win in Extra Frame Over Wilmington - Potomac Nationals
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Hill City Howlers
- Pelicans Media Notes vs. Lynchburg - 7:05 p.m. EST - Game 3 of 3 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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