Hillcats Drop Thriller to Red Sox

Salem, Virginia – The Lynchburg Hillcats (22-19) and the Salem Red Sox (24-19) traded blows for four hours and eighteen minutes, but an extra inning knock handed the Hillcats a 9-8 loss, their third walk-off loss in seven games.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Lynchburg scored first in the first inning thanks to back-to-back singles from Micah Pries and Yainer Diaz, with Pries coming home on a wild pitch from Red Sox starter Ryan Zeferjahn.
• After leaving five stranded in the first and second, Salem finally scored against ‘Cats starter Zach Hart in the bottom of the third when Matthew Lugo raced home on a fielder’s choice.
• The game was tied at 1-1 until the top of the fifth when the Hillcats poured on four runs. The inning was highlighted by a two RBI double into right field off the bat of Angel Martinez and Ike Freeman’s first RBI as a Hillcat.
• Up 5-1 the Hillcats cushion did not last long when Salem’s Nick Northcutt smashed a three-run shot over the wall in center field to cut the lead to one after five innings of play.
• Over the course of the next three frames, Salem tacked on a run apiece, taking a 7-5 lead heading into the top of the ninth. Against Salem reliever Jacinto Arredondo, Lynchburg’s Alexfri Planez kicked off a comeback bid with a single up the middle. Angel Martinez followed by crushing a triple to right field, picking up his third RBI of the night and making it a one-run game. Martinez himself scored on a wild pitch, tying the game and pushing a bottom of the ninth.
• Hillcats’ reliever Trey Benton retired the Red Sox in order in the bottom of the ninth inning, forcing the game into extras.
• In the top of the tenth Hillcats’ extra base runner Christian Cairo tallied thanks to a Cody Farhat single to center, giving the Hillcats an 8-7 advantage. However, a sacrifice fly by Salem’s Stephen Scott knotted the game up yet again, moving the contest to an eleventh inning.
• Another Planez single moved Hosea Nelson 90-feet away in the eleventh, but Salem reliever Ryan Fernandez locked in and retired two straight to set up a potential walk off situation for the Red Sox.
• Red Sox first round draft pick Nick Yorke answered the call, roping a hit up the third base line to score Ceddanne Rafaela and hand Lynchburg a walk-off loss in game one of a six game series.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Alexfri Planez is on a nine game hit streak that dates back to June 12th and is the longest of any Hillcat this season.
• Salem now has sole possession of second place in the Northern Division, bumping the Hillcats down to third.

WHO'S NEXT

The Hillcats reset against the Red Sox Wednesday at 7:05pm from Salem Memorial Ballpark.