LYNCHBURG TAKES TWO AGAINST SALEM

SUMMARY
Lynchburg took a pair of wins from the Salem Red Sox in a de facto doubleheader at City Stadium on Wednesday Night. The Hillcats won the continuation of a suspended game 4-0 and notched an 8-2 victory in the nightcap. Lynchburg has won eight of its last nine games to vault into first place in the Northern Division second-half standings with an 18-16 record since the All-Star Break.

GAME ONE - RIGHT WHERE THEY LEFT OFF
Lynchburg and Salem picked up a suspended game to start off the afternoon with the Hillcats leading 3-0 with one out in the top of the fourth inning. Justin Brantley (3-5) began the continuation on the mound for the Hillcats and pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. Four pitchers combined to throw 5 2/3 scoreless innings for the Hillcats to help seal the shutout win. It marked the third time the Hillcats have completed a shutout in the last five games and the sixth overall blanking of an opponent.

Nellie Rodriguez led off the eighth inning with a single and scored on a sacrifice fly by Sicnarf Loopstok that gave the Hillcats their fourth and final run to make it 4-0.

GAME TWO - BROWN WINS FIFTH STRAIGHT
Mitch Brown turned in another quality start to earn his fifth straight victory for the first time in his career. Brown pitched six full innings and allowed two runs on four hits while striking out seven to earn the win.

Lynchburg scored in each of the first three innings of the nightcap. With two outs in the first inning, Nellie Rodriguez and Mike Papi smacked back-to-back RBI doubles to give the Hillcats a 2-0 lead.

Salem cut the lead in half, 2-1, with a solo home run by Kevin Heller to lead off the second inning.

In the bottom of the second, LeVon Washington led off with a single and was driven home on a RBI base hit by Dorssys Paulino to put Lynchburg up 3-1. Clint Frazier led off the third with a single and stole second base and came home when Mike Papi recorded his second RBI of the game to extend the lead to 4-2.

With a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, Lynchburg added three insurance runs by ripping off five straight two-out hits. Paul Hendrix, Nellie Rodriguez, and Mike Papi each recorded RBIs to give the Hillcats an 8-2 lead.

KEEPING UP WITH THE CATS
Mike Papi recorded a three-hit, three-RBI night at the plate…The trio of RBIs tied a career high for Papi who has accomplished the feat three times in his career, the last coming against Salem on July 4 in a game the Hillcats won 15-0…Dorssys Paulino recorded an RBI in each of the games on Wednesday…Paulino has recorded an RBI in eight of his last nine and 11 in 15 total games with the Hillcats…Lynchburg has won eight of its last nine games and will be looking for its second sweep in its last three series on Thursday night against Salem…Lynchburg improved to 12-7 against the Red Sox this season.

UP NEXT
Lynchburg will attempt a series sweep on Thursday night against the Salem Red Sox beginning at 6:30 p.m. It will be Christmas in July at City Stadium and the first 1,000 guests through the gates will receive a Santa Gnome presented by Auto Owners Insurance. Gates will open for the game 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 6:10 p.m. for the Hillcats On-Deck Show.