Hillcats Drop Another at Salem, 6-1

Lynchburg endured a 58-minute rain delay and outhit the Red Sox but ultimately fell to Salem, 6-1, at Lewis Gale Field Friday evening.

Jose Peraza went 3-for-4 to lead the Hillcats (33-35) attack, which posted eight hits compared to seven by the Red Sox (32-34). Peraza extended his hitting streak to 13 games with the effort and also stole his league-leading 33rd base as part of the action. David Nick and Daniel Carroll each added multi-hit efforts.

Kyle Wren did not register a hit and ended his hitting streak at 16 games, which is currently tied with Erik Gonzalez of the Mudcats for the best in the Carolina League this season.

Trailing 6-0, Lynchburg finally broke through in the seventh inning. After Ahrens reached on a one-out walk, Daniel Carroll hit an RBI double into the left-center field gap to give the Hillcats their first run at LewisGale Field in 28 innings of play. However, that marked the only run of the game for Lynchburg.

Identical to the series opener, Matty Johnson reached in the bottom of the first inning, stole a base, and scored the first run of the contest. This time, rather than an RBI single by Carson Blair, Johnson came home on a wild pitch by Lucas Sims.

Sims (5-4) started the game for the Hillcats, but only lasted two batters into the second inning after a 58-minute rain delay knocked him from the contest. He allowed two runs on one hit, two walks, a hit batter and two wild pitches. After suffering two walk-off losses to the Hillcats last week, Kyle Kraus (3-3) earned the victory after 4.2 innings of relief following the delay.

Salem added its second run in the second inning after a leadoff triple by Tim Roberson. Roberson had to wait more than an hour to score from third, but finally did so on an RBI groundout by Ryan Dent.

Salem plated two more runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings to stretch the lead to 6-0. Kevin Heller, Roberson, Aneury Tavarez and Dent all scored to extend the margin.

The Hillcats have now dropped nine in a row at LewisGale Field dating back to June 16, 2013. Lynchburg is in the midst of an 0-for-29 stretch with runners in scoring position at the facility.

Greg Ross (4-3, 3.56) will take the mound for the final time before his All-Star appearance next week when he opposes lefty Corey Littrell (3-3, 4.80). The game will begin at 6:05pm, and the Hillcats On-Deck Show presented by Amtrak Virginia will take the air on 97.9 The Planet at 5:40pm.