CarL1 Lynchburg Hillcats

Power Surge Not Enough for Hillcats

Published on July 11, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release


Lynchburg, VA- The Hillcats hit a season-high four home runs, including two by Phil Gosselin, on Monday night. However, the bullpen couldn't hold up a large lead, and the Hillcats lost 11-10 to the Potomac Nationals.

The slugfest ensued early at City Stadium. The very first pitch of the game was launched over the right field fence by Potomac leadoff man Francisco Soriano to give the Nationals the early lead.

The Hillcats matched the home run with one of their own in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Phil Gosselin hit a solo home run to right-center field, his third home run of the season, to tie the game up at one.

The Lynchburg bats exploded in the bottom of the second inning. Six runs came across the plate, including a solo home run from Joe Leonard and Phil Gosselin's second home run of the game, a three run shot. It was the first time in Gosselin's career that he hit multiple home runs in a game. When the dust settled in the second inning, it was 7-1 Hillcats.

The Hillcats added another run in the third. Joey Terdoslavich led off the inning with his 13th home run of the season, extending the lead to 8-1. The home run was the fourth of the game for the Hillcats, which became a new season-high.

The game started to turn after that. In the top of the fourth, Justin Bloxom led off with a home run. Later in the inning, J.R. Higley hit an RBI double to cut the lead to 8-3.

The Hillcats added an insurance run in the fifth, off an RBI double by Joe Leonard, but the Nationals continued to chip away at the lead. The Nationals had five hits and took advantage of an error by Joe Leonard, in the top of the sixth. Four runs came across the plate, and the lead slipped to just 9-7.

The lead disappeared entirely in the seventh. With runners on first and second, Jose Lozada dropped down a bunt that was fielded by relief pitcher Eliecer Cardenas. Cardenas spun towards third and fired, trying to get the lead runner. However, the throw was wide and flew out to left field. Both runners came around to score, and just like that, the game was 9-9.

The game remained tied until the ninth inning. Hillcats closer Ryan Buchter came into the game at the start of the inning. The leadoff batter, Higley, hit a slow grounder that he beat by a half step to first for an infield hit. Lozada sacrificed him to second. Pinch hitter Brian Peacock hit a double, which scored Higley and gave the Nationals the lead for the first time since the first inning. Two batters later, Destin Hood lifted a sacrifice fly to left that scored Peacock, and the Nationals took an 11-9 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

Hector Nelo came in to the game for the Nationals to try to pick up the save for the second straight night. Terdoslavich led off with an infield single. Christian Bethancourt then popped up to second for the first out. Leonard hit a grounder to shortstop Jeff Kobernus that looked like it would end the game. However, Kobernus could not handle the ball, and Terdoslavich was able to beat him to second. With runners on first and second, Rodriguez launched a rocket out to right-center. Terdoslavich scored easily, and Leonard made the turn at third behind him to try to score. Cutter Dykstra took the relay throw from the outfield and fired it to the plate. Sandy Leon placed the tag on Leonard to prevent the tying run from scoring. On the throw to the plate, Rodriguez was able to advance to third. With two outs, Keenan Wiley grounded out to second to end the game, and the Hillcats fell 11-10.

Buchter (1-3) took the loss for the Hillcats while Josh Smoker (3-1) pitched one and one-third scoreless innings to earn the win for the Nationals. Nelo picked up his tenth save of the season.

The Hillcats fell to 6-12 in the second half, while the Nationals improved to 11-8.

Lynchburg has a day off on Tuesday before the Winston-Salem Dash come into town for a four game set starting on Wednesday night. The first game is scheduled for a 7:05 pm first pitch, with the gates opening at 6.

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Carolina League Stories from July 11, 2011


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