CarL1 Lynchburg Hillcats

Lynchburg offense erupts for 13 runs, 19 hits

Published on May 22, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release


Lynchburg snapped a two-game losing streak with a 13-5 rout of Potomac at Pfitzner Stadium on Friday night. The Hillcats and Nationals will square off in game two of the three-game weekend series at 6:35 p.m. Saturday.

The Hillcats wasted no time in setting the tone for the game. Jose De Los Santos smacked a leadoff triple in the top of the first. De Los Santos scored moments later when Jordy Mercer ripped an RBI double. After Mercer was thrown out at third and Pedro Alvarez popped out, Matt Hague laced a two-run double. Miles Durham drove in Hague with an RBI single that gave Lynchburg a 2-0 lead.

De Los Santos struck again in the top of the second. After connecting for a two-out single, De Los Santos promptly swiped second base with Mercer at the plate. Mercer knocked in De Los Santos with an RBI single, extending Lynchburg's advantage to 3-0.

The P-Nats responded with a run in the bottom of the second when Michael Burgess blasted his ninth home run of the season to make it a 3-1 contest.

Lynchburg answered with three runs in the third. Pedro Alvarez led off the frame with a solo home run. Hague followed with a single and advanced to second when Kris Watts delivered a one-out single. Ray Chang drew a walk off Potomac reliever Carlos Martinez to load the bases. Maiko Loyola belted a two-run double that plated Hague and Watts, giving the Hillcats a 6-1 edge.

After each team scored once in the fifth, the Hillcats broke the game open in the sixth. De Los Santos opened the frame with a leadoff walk. With Alvarez at the plate and one out, De Los Santos stole second base. After Alvarez' groundout enabled De Los Santos to reach third, Matt Hague reach on a hit by pitch. Durham delivered an RBI single that scored De Los Santos. Following a pitching change, Watts and Chang hit consecutive RBI singles. Loyola followed with a two-run triple to complete the five-run frame and make it a 12-2 game.

Potomac inched closer in the bottom of the seventh when Brian Peacock's sacrifice fly drove in Jesus Valdez.

Lynchburg answered with a run in the eighth. After Watts doubled and advanced to third on a balk, Chang delivered a sacrifice fly to score Watts and make it 13-2.

The P-Nats added a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth on Christopher Marrero's two-run home run.

The Hillcats accumulated a season-high 19 hits against Potomac. Lynchburg's previous high in base hits came against the P-Nats in an April 10 contest which the Hillcats won 14-7.

Matt McSwain (4-1) earned the win for Lynchburg while Colton Willems (1-3) took the loss for Potomac. Dustin Molleken picked up his first save of the season.

With the win, Lynchburg improved to 26-15 and remains in first place in the Carolina League's Northern Division, a game and a half ahead of Potomac, which fell to 24-16.

The Hillcats will meet Potomac in game two of the three-game series on Saturday night at 6:35.

Tune in to FM 105.5 KD Country, 96.9 FM Roanoke or online at www.kdcountry.com for all the live action beginning at 6:15 p.m.

Check out the Lynchburg Hillcats Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from May 22, 2009


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