Lynchburg Overcomes Early Deficit At The Phitz
Published on April 9, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Hill City Howlers News Release
Woodbridge, VA - A ninth inning three-run home run by the P-Nats gave Lynchburg a scare, but the Hillcats pulled out a 6-5 victory over the Nationals to begin the season with a win. Arodys Viscaino tossed five innings and allowed just two runs to earn the win.
The Nationals jumped out to hot start as their first three batters hit safely in the bottom of the first inning. Lead-off man, Eury Perez, singled and stole two bases before coming around to score on Jeff Kobernus' RBI single. Hague followed Kobernus with a double, putting runners at second and third. Lynchburg starter, Arodys Vizcaino, stuck in an early jam, settled down retiring the next three batters via a strikeout, ground out, and fly out. Kobernus would come around to score however, on Destin Hood's RBI ground out to third.
Phil Gosselin, a University of Virginia product, took back the momentum for Lynchburg with a three-run double in the top of the third inning. Potomac's starter, Danny Rosenbaum, walked Braeden Schlehuber on four straight pitches, and L.V. Ware reached on an error. Hillcats' lead-off hitter, Andrelton Simmons, then loaded the bases taking his own four-pitch walk, and setting the table for Gosselin.
Meanwhile, Vizcaino retired 15 of 16 P-Nats after allowing those first three hits. He finished with five innings, three hits, two earned runs, a walk, and six strikeouts, and earned his first win of the season.
The Hillcats took advantage of more Potomac mistakes in the eighth, tacking on three more runs on just one hit. The bases loaded up on a single and a pair of walks. Then three wild pitches allowed Lynchburg to cushion their lead. The 'Cats led 6-2 after seven and a half frames.
Lynchburg entered the bottom of the ninth with a four-run lead in Woodbridge. David Hale was sent out for his third inning of relief. He had thrown two scoreless frames but ran into trouble in the ninth. Hale allowed two runners to reach on a walk and single, while striking out a batter in between. Then, Steven Souza blasted an opposite field home run over the right field wall to bring the Nationals within one. Potential closer, Jason Lowey, relieved Hale after the long ball. Lowey induced a quick ground out to short, walked a batter, and struck out Cutter Dykstra on a check swing to seal the Hillcats 6-5 win and earn his first save of the season.
Late heroics were not enough for the Nationals as they fell to Lynchburg in the season opener. Tomorrow the rain shortened series will wrap up with a 1:05pm start time. Right-hander Zeke Spruill (0-0, 0.00) will take the mound for the Hillcats against right-hander Trevor Holder (0-0, 0.00) for the Nationals.
You can catch all the action with Scott Bacon and Erik Wilson on 105.5 KD Country or on our website at lynchburg-hillcats.com. The Hillcats On-Deck Show Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg will go on the air at 12:40pm with first pitch at 1:05pm.
Carolina League Stories from April 9, 2011
- Lynchburg Overcomes Early Deficit At The Phitz - Hill City Howlers
- Pelicans And Blue Rocks Suspended In Ninth - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Homers, Pouring Rain Dominate Suspended Game - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Dash Wins Rain-Shortened Contest 3-2 - Winston-Salem Dash
- Strong Start, Rally in 9th Not Enough to Overcome Miscues - Potomac Nationals
- Kinston Falls in Rain Shortened affair - Kinston Indians
- Rain Postpones Keys and Red Sox, Again - Frederick Keys
- Salem Sox Remain Undefeated in 2011 - Salem RidgeYaks
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Hill City Howlers
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