Hillcats Edge Out Shorebirds

Lynchburg, Virginia – Lenny Torres tossed five innings of no-hit baseball and Yainer Diaz extended his hitting streak to fifteen straight games as the Lynchburg Hillcats (26-25) defeated the Delmarva Shorebirds (34-17) 3-2 in game five of a six game series at Bank of the James Stadium.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Hillcats struck first in the bottom of the first inning against Delmarva starter Noah Denoyer. Angel Martinez kicked things off with a standup double, coming home when Yainer Diaz smacked a single up the middle. Diaz’s 29th RBI of the year gave the ‘Cats a slight 1-0 lead after the first frame of play.
• Lynchburg added another score in the bottom of the second when Korey Holland reached first on an error committed by Shorebirds’ second baseman Darell Hernaiz. A single from Christian Cairo moved Holland to third with the run coming home thanks to an RBI base-hit from Petey Halpin. The knock was the first professional hit for the 19-year-old Halpin and extended Lynchburg’s lead to 2-0.
• ‘Cats starter Lenny Torres had the best outing of his young minor league career, allowing just one baserunner on a walk to Darell Hernaiz. The righty fanned five batters and did not allow a single hit in five innings of work against a Delmarva team that has the highest rated offense in the Low-A East.
• The Shorebirds broke up the no hitter in the top of the sixth with Hillcats reliever Daritzon Feliz on the mound. Ramon Rodriguez sliced a single right away, coming home on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice. Hudson Haskin tied the game with a single to left field and it was back to the drawing board heading into the bottom of the sixth.
• It didn’t take long for the Hillcats to regain the lead. With one out Shorebirds reliever Adam Stauffer beamed ‘Cats third baseman Christian Cairo with a pitch. Now at first and with Yordys Valdes at the plate, Cairo swiped both second and third, racing home when Valdes smoked a single to center field to give Lynchburg a 3-2 lead.
• Hillcats reliever Cade Smith pitched the final two innings of the game, stranding the tying run at third after a leadoff triple in the eighth and blanking the Shorebirds to secure a 3-2 Lynchburg victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• With two stolen bases on the day Christian Cairo now has the second-most swipes on the team with eight on the year.
• The Hillcats are down 4-1 in the series with the Shorebirds.

WHO'S NEXT

The Hillcats finish off the series with Delmarva Sunday during the Hillcats July 4th extravaganza. Game time is 6:30pm with fireworks immediately following the game.