CarL1 Lynchburg Hillcats

Seven-Run Ninth Dooms Cats in Finale

Published on July 21, 2010 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Lynchburg Hillcats News Release


The Hillcats came back from a three-run deficit early to take a 5-3 lead, but the Keys exploded for seven runs in the ninth to take a 10-7 win. The Keys take the final City Stadium series of the season between the two teams.

Frederick scored in the first inning against starter James Avery. Xavier Avery doubled to start off the game, and later scored on the triple by Ronnie Welty. James Avery got out of a jam, though. After walking the next hitter Billy Rowell, he retired the following two hitters.

Avery needed to pitch through a jam again in the third. Xavier Avery and Kyle Hudson reached to lead off the frame. After Welty struck out, Rowell walked again to load the bases. Buck Britton singled home one run. Pedro Florimon hit a shallow fly ball to left fielder Josh Fellhauer. Hudson tagged from third and beat the throw home by Fellhauer to make it 3-0.

Hillcats Manager Pat Kelly argued the call on the play at home and was ejected by home plate umpire Tim Rosso.

Lynchburg started to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Jose Gualdron reached on a single to lead off, and advanced to second on Efrain Contreras' sacrifice bunt. Gualdron advanced to third on Jordan Wideman's groundout and scored on Josh Fellhauer's single.

The Cats finished off the comeback in the fourth. Neftali Soto led off with a walk, then Denis Phipps hit a two-run blast to tie the ballgame. It was Phipps' second home run of the series (and in as many games), and third with Lynchburg.

With the game tied in the sixth, Kyle Day reached with a one out single. Brodie Greene hit a grounder to short that looked like a sure double play, but it went off the glove and through the legs of Florimon. The runners advanced to second and third. Contreras came up with two outs and singled home both runs to take the lead 5-3.

Donnie Joseph came in to close the game in the ninth for the Hillcats and walked the first three batters. He also had two wild pitches that scored Bobby Stevens and left the tying run in Avery at third base. With Keys at the corners (Hudson was the third walk) and nobody out, Ruben Medina relieved Joseph.

Medina faced Welty to start off, and he grounded a ball that Cody Puckett fielded and threw to second, but Greene missed the catch. Avery scored from third to tie the game. Billy Rowell was next up and lined a single to left that scored the go-ahead run. After a sacrifice bunt, Florimon cleared the bases with a three-run homer to put the Keys up 9-5.

Frederick scored one more run after Miguel Abreu reached on a single and scored on a wild pitch. When all was said and done in the frame, the Keys scored seven runs on four hits. Medina gets the blown save after all inherited runners scored with him on the mound, and Joseph gets the loss. The three runs that scored to put Frederick in front were all credited to him.

The Cats rallied for a couple runs in the bottom of the ninth. Fellhauer led off the inning with a double to the wall. Soto reached after getting hit by a pitch. Both runners scored on a double by Phipps to make it 10-7, but it wasn't enough. Greene grounded out to end the ballgame.

After struggling through the first few innings, James Avery settled down and threw six quality innings. He gave up three runs on five hits and struck out three. He gets no decision after the bullpen couldn't hold the lead.

Lynchburg opens up a four-game weekend series with 460-rival Salem tomorrow night at 7:05. Chase Ware (0-1, 1.76) makes his first home start against Stolmy Pimentel (5-7, 4.45) for the Red Sox. City Stadium features "Thursday Cheers" drink specials throughout the evening presented by Yuengling and Miller Lite. Gates open at 6 p.m.

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Carolina League Stories from July 21, 2010


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