Hillcats Cruise to Fourth Straight Victory

Lynchburg, Virginia - Josh Wolf fanned seven batters in his first game since being traded from the Mets and Jhonkensy Noel smashed a homer over the left field wall as the Hillcats moved to 4-0 on the year with a 7-2 victory over the Fredericksburg Nationals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Nationals drew first blood against the Hillcats in the opening frame. Wolf, who was acquired by Cleveland in 2020’s blockbuster Francisco Lindor trade, gave up a single to lead-off hitter Jeremy Ydens to open the game. A steal, a wild pitch, and a single from Jake Randa brought home Ydens. Wolf still managed to strike out the side, sending the Hillcats down just 1-0 after a half inning.
• After the first Wolf locked in, tossing three scoreless innings on the mound and striking out four more batters. Before the stellar four innings of work, Wolf had only pitched two innings or less in his minor league career.
• Lynchburg took the lead in the bottom of the second, after being blanked by FredNats starter Mitchell Parker in the bottom of the first. Angel Martinez and Yordys Valdes both earned free passes, opening the door for a two-RBI single off the bat of Gabriel Martinez that put the Hillcats up 2-1 after two innings of play.
• The Nationals tied the game up in the top of the fifth while battling ‘Cats reliever Miguel Vinicio (1-0). Jake Boone immediately tripled to start the frame, coming home off a sacrifice fly from Jeremy Ydens to make it two-apiece.
• Lynchburg answered in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two more runs to retake the lead. Four singles in a row, including an RBI base-hit from Korey Holland, tacked on the first. The second coming when Angel Martinez drew a bases loaded walk. With the bases still full Fredericksburg reliever Lucas Knowles (0-1) struck out Alexfri Planez to limit the damage for the Nationals.
• In the bottom of the sixth Gabriel Rodriguez doubled on a line drive to center field, jogging home when Jhonkensy Noel surged a bomb over the wall in left. The seemed to stamp a victory, extending the Lynchburg lead to four.
• An RBI from Hillcats outfielder Julian Escobedo in the eighth brought the score up to 7-2. Meanwhile, Jerson Ramirez stepped in to pitch two hitless frames, solidifying a fourth straight Hillcats win.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Jhonkensy Noel is batting .500 on the early season, racking up eight RBIs in just four games played.
• The Hillcats have scored the second most runs in minor league baseball, with 50 total through four games.
• The fourth win also means Lynchburg has already won the six game series with Fredericksburg.

WHO'S NEXT

The Hillcats and the Nationals return to action Saturday at 6:30pm from Bank of the James Stadium.