Hillcats Eliminated From First Half Race

Kyle Wren extended his hitting streak to a league-best 16 games, but Lynchburg's offensive woes at LewisGale Field continued Thursday night, as the Hillcats extended their scoreless streak at Salem Memorial Ballpark to 22-straight innings in a 6-0 loss to the Red Sox.

With a 2-for-3 day at the plate, Wren matched Erik Gonzalez of the Carolina Mudcats for the longest hitting streak in the Carolina League this season. Gonzalez's stretch occurred from April 8-24. Meanwhile, Jose Peraza went 2-for-5 in the game to move his hitting streak to a personal-best 12-straight games, which ranks eighth in the league.

In addition to Wren and Peraza, Daniel Carroll registered a multi-hit performance with a 2-for-4 game that included a double. However, Lynchburg (33-34) never pushed a run across and stranded 10 men. It marked the second consecutive game where the Hillcats stranded double-digit runners after leaving a season-high 12 men on base in the series finale at Myrtle Beach.

After suffering only one shutout in the team's first 63 games, Lynchburg has now been shut out twice in the past four days. With the loss, the Hillcats are eliminated from first-half title contention.

Cody Scarpetta (0-1) made his organizational debut after being signed by the Braves on June 9 and went five innings in his start. The right-hander allowed three runs on six hits while striking out three. Luis Diaz (6-3) struck out five in six scoreless innings to begin the combined shutout. Nate Reed went two innings out of the bullpen, while Dayan Diaz tossed a perfect ninth with three strikeouts.

Salem (31-34) received all the offense it needed in the first inning when the leadoff man Matty Johnson singled to left field, stole second base and scored on an RBI single by Carson Blair. Blair added an RBI double in the third inning and scored later that frame on an RBI double by Kevin Heller to give Salem a 3-0 lead after three innings.

In the sixth inning, Aneury Tavarez reached on an error and came home on an RBI single by Johnson. With a 4-0 advantage entering the bottom of the eighth, Tavarez led off the inning a little more convincingly. The right fielder hit his fifth home run of the season and his second against the Hillcats. Tim Roberson followed with a double, and Johnson hit an RBI fielder's choice to drive home Roberson and account for the final score, 6-0.

Lynchburg will look to even the series when it returns to Salem Memorial Ballpark for 7:05pm first pitch Friday night. Lucas Sims (5-3, 4.82) will make his final start of the first half of the season when he faces off with Pat Light (1-2, 5.23). Fans can hear the action on 97.9 The Planet beginning with the Hillcats On-Deck Show presented by Amtrak Virginia.