Plesac Pitches Hillcats to Series Sweep

LYNCHBURG, VA-Zach Plesac tossed seven innings of one-run baseball to guide the Lynchburg Hillcats to a 4-1 win over the Frederick Keys on Wednesday afternoon at City Stadium. The orange and black were swept for the first time all season. Facing tough pitching all series, the Keys were held to just two runs in 27 innings.
The nephew of former Major League reliever, Dan Plesac, the Hillcats (7-6) right-hander needed only 69 pitches (42 strikes) to complete seven frames. He surrendered three hits and one walk. From there, Anderson Polanco and Kieran Lovegrove shut the door, combining on two scoreless innings. Lovegrove picked up the save, his first of the year.

Cristian Alvarado was tagged with the loss despite turning in his second quality outing in three starts. Pitching six innings, the Venezuelan gave up three runs on eight hits in six innings. Alvarado (2-1) walked two and struck out two.
Lynchburg scored all four of their runs in the game with two outs. In the third, Luke Wakamatsu walked with two outs, moved to second on a base hit by Conner Capel and scored on a single by Emmanuel Tapia.
The Keys (6-8) leveled the game in the fifth. Randolph Gassaway singled and scooted to third on a groundout and a fly out. From there, Jake Ring collected an RBI single to bring his teammate home.
Frederick's lead would be short-lived, as Tapia hit a two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning. The Midwest League's home run champion in 2017, it was Tapia's first Carolina League blast.
Lynchburg added insurance in the eighth. Jodd Carter walked, stole second and come home following a throwing error by Alejandro Juvier at short.  
 
The Keys return home on Thursday to begin a four-game series against the Wilmington Blue Rocks at 7:00 p.m. Right-hander Cody Sedlock (0-1, 9.00) starts for the Keys. For tickets, fans can call the club at 301-815-9939 or visit frederickkeys.com.