ERRORS PROVE COSTLY IN 5-3 LOSS
SUMMARY
A pair of errors in the third inning allowed the Salem Red Sox to plate four runs to take an early lead in a 5-3 victory over Lynchburg on Sunday afternoon at Calvin Falwell Field at City Stadium. Luis Lugo allowed just one earned run over 4 2/3 innings in the loss.
EARLY START
After being shut out in last night's 15-0 rout, the Red Sox came out firing from the start. In the top of the second inning, Mauricio Dubon drew a two-out walk and stole second before he was driven in by Jordan Betts to put the Sox up 1-0. However, it was the top of the third inning that proved costly for the Hillcats. Zach Kapstein led off the inning on an error by Ivan Castillo and Jose Vinicio reached base on an error by Paul Hendrix. Kevin Heller walked to load the bases and Mario Martinez drove in all three runs on a bases-clearing double. Mauricio Dubon capped off the four-run frame with a double of his own that drove in Martinez to make it 5-0 Red Sox.
CLAWING BACK
Lynchburg responded in the bottom of the frame with three straight doubles by Ivan Castillo, Luigi Rodriguez, and Clint Frazier to cut the lead to 5-2. Rodriguez's double extended his hit streak to a season-high 12 games. He finished the game going 2-for-4 at the plate and has recorded 10 multi-hit games during that span. Castillo's double was his only hit of the game, but extended his hit streak to seven games.
AUDIO: Luigi Rodriguez RBI double
The game went scoreless for the next four and a half innings before Lynchburg plated another run when Frazier scored on a RBI single by Paul Hendrix to get within two, 5-3. Eric Haase struck out to end the inning, leaving the tying run on base.
ERRORS PROVE COSTLY
Luis Lugo was seeking consecutive wins for the third time this season, but the two errors in the third inning made that a tough task. Lugo allowed just one earned run over 4 2/3 innings while striking out three batters, earning the loss. Lugo has not won consecutive games since he won three straight starts from May 15-May 27, with the middle of those three wins coming against Salem.
Robbie Aviles, Grant Sides, and Delvy Francisco combined for 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief with Sides and Francisco each striking out two batters in two innings.
WE ARE AT HOME, RIGHT?
Lynchburg is 8-0 on the road against Salem, however with the loss, Lynchburg fell to 1-3 against the Red Sox at City Stadium this year. In the three losses at home, Salem has outscored the Hillcats 20-5 for an average margin of victory of five runs.
KEEPING UP WITH THE 'CATS
Luigi Rodriguez extended his hit streak to 12 games after going 2-for-5...He is now hitting 25-for-58 (.431) with a home run, four doubles, and four triples in that span…After a career-high four hit night last night, Nellie Rodriguez went 0-for-4 at the plate with a season-high three strikeouts...Grant Sides pitched for the first time in a Hillcats uniform...It was his first appearance in a game since June 18 with Akron.
UP NEXT
Lynchburg try to take the series in the rubber match against the Salem Red Sox on Monday night at 6:30 p.m. Fans can tune in to the action on ESPN Virginia 93.3 FM and 1320 AM as well as www.lynchburg-hillcats.com beginning at 6:10 p.m. for the Hillcats On-Deck Show.