POTOMAC TAKES PAIR IN DOUBLEHEADER
SUMMARY
Lynchburg was swept in a doubleheader by the Potomac Nationals losing game one, 3-2, in walk-off fashion and game two, 4-2, on Thursday afternoon at Pfitzner Stadium.The Hillcats have been swept five times in 10 doubleheaders this season.
GAME ONE - PITCHERS' DUEL
In the first game of a doubleheader, Dace Kime (2-4) went toe-to-toe against Phillips Valdez (4-2) in an old-fashioned pitchers' duel. The contest went scoreless through the first three innings before the Hillcats broke through in the top of the fourth. Lynchburg cranked out three straight hits to begin the inning and loaded the bases. Eric Haase hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Nellie Rodriguez that put the 'Cats up 1-0. In the very next at-bat, Claudio Bautista singled to score Mike Papi and give Lynchburg a 2-0 lead.
Dace Kime turned in one of his best performances with the Hillcats through six innings after he only allowed three hits and no walks without surrendering a run. He tied a season-high with Lynchburg with five strikeouts. However, in the bottom of the seventh, Kime walked a batter and allowed a single before giving way to Ben Heller, who came in to attempt the save.
WALK OFF WIN
Ben Heller, who had not blown a save since April 16, entered the game with runners at first and second. John Wooten singled to left on the first pitch he saw to drive home Spencer Kieboom and bring the game within one. Heller then tried to intentionally walk Brandon Miller, but sailed the pitch over the head of Eric Haase and allowed Drew Ward to score from third to tie the game, blowing the save. Miller grounded out to third, but with two outs Khayyan Norfork rifled a ball into the gap in left-center to score Wooten from third to seal the walk-off, comeback win.
GAME TWO - FIFTH FULL OF TROUBLE
Game two of the doubleheader started off in a similar fashion. Antonio Romero worked two scoreless innings in a spot start to begin the game before surrendering a run in the bottom of the third. Grant DeBruin hammered a sacrifice fly that scored Cody Dent to make it 1-0 P-Nats. Lynchburg responded in the top of the fourth with a RBI single by Mike Papi that scored Bradley Zimmer from second to even the contest.
Potomac broke the game open in the home half of the fifth inning scoring three runs in the frame. Estarlin Martinez singled to lead off the inning, stole second base and eventually stole home to break the tie and give the Nationals a 2-1 lead. After a walk by Stephen Perez, Potomac ripped off three straight singles with RBIs from John Wooten and Drew Ward to extend the lead to 4-1.
CAN'T RETURN THE FAVOR
With Lynchburg trailing entering the seventh inning, Mike Papi led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on an error by Estarlin Martinez. Sicnarf Loopstok, who had not recorded a sacrifice fly in his career before joining the Hillcats, recorded his second of the season to drive home Papi and bring Lynchburg within two, 4-2. Yhoxian Medina could not extend the rally, however, has he lined out to second to end the game.
DOUBLE-DIP WOES
Lynchburg has played in nine doubleheaders this season, which ties Myrtle Beach for the most by any team in the Carolina League. With the pair of losses, the Hillcats have been swept in five of their nine doubleheaders. The 'Cats are now 6-12 in doubleheaders, which is the worst record in the Carolina League.
KEEPING UP WITH THE 'CATS
Mike Papi recorded at least one hit in both games bringing his current hit streak to 11 games…Papi also recorded a RBI in the second game of the doubleheader and now has tallied 12 RBIs in as many games…After turning in a 12 game hit streak from June 19-July 7, Luigi Rodriguez wrapped up the series with Potomac without a hit…The outfielder finished 0-for-12 and grounded into a double play three different times.
UP NEXT
Lynchburg will return home for a four-game series with the Wilmington Blue Rocks on Friday night at 7 p.m. Baseball legend, Jose Canseco, will be in attendance for an appearance and a home run competition beginning at 6 p.m. Gates will open at 5:30 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 6:40 p.m. for the Hillcats On-Deck Show.