Hillcats Walked Off By Red Sox

Salem, Virginia – A two hour and twenty minute rain delay almost got the best of the Lynchburg Hillcats (25-21), but ultimately it was Eduardo Lopez’s walk-off single that beat the ‘Cats 11-10 in game six of a six game series against the Salem Red Sox (26-22).

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Hillcats tacked on two runs in the top of the first inning off an RBI double smacked by Yainer Diaz with Salem starter Ryan Zeferjahn on the mound.
• Lynchburg added another tally in the top of the second when Johnathan Rodriguez hit a two-bagger, coming home on an Angel Martinez single. The knock put the Hillcats up 3-0 after just an inning in a half.
• Josh Wolf tossed two scoreless frames on the mound for the Hillcats, quickly fanning Jeccorah Arnold to start the bottom of the third as well. However, a bunt single and a throwing error by Wolf allowed Gilberto Jimenez to move into scoring position. Another throwing error by Lynchburg third baseman Yordys Valdes put Matthew Lugo on for Salem as well. Jimenez raced home on a Jaxx Groshans single to left, cutting the Hillcats lead to two.
• Rain hit and both teams would have to wait two hours and twenty minutes to complete the bottom of the third.
• Due to the delay the Hillcats made a pitching change when the game resumed with one out in the bottom of the third, sending reliever Liam Jenkins out to finish the inning with still two runners on. Salem’s Joe Davis stepped up to the plate and launched the first pitch he saw over the center field wall, giving the Red Sox a one run lead with one crack of a bat.
• Salem continued to add to it’s lead in the bottom of the fourth, using two hits and a walk to go up 6-3.
• The Hillcats refused to go away quietly against new Salem hurler Jordan DiValerio in the top of the fifth, grabbing singles from Angel Martinez, Andres Melendez, and Ike Freeman to push in a quick tally. With two on and two outs, Cody Farhat crushed a home run to left field, vaulting the Hillcats to a 7-6 lead. As the next batter up, Alexfri Planez blasted his own solo-shot to extend the Hillcats lead to 8-6.
• Salem made it a one run game in the bottom of the fifth thanks to an Alex Erro RBI, but the Hillcats quickly went up two again when Angel Martinez went yard in the top of the sixth to make it 9-7 Lynchburg.
• The back and forth continued into the bottom of the sixth when Joe Davis smashed a three-run shot yet again to give Salem a one-run lead.
• The Hillcats tied the game at 10-10 in the top of the seventh when Andres Melendez sprinted home on a wild pitch.
• Jerson Ramirez came in to pitch for the Hillcats in the seventh and the eighth innings, retiring all six batters he faced. In fact, the eighth frame was the only inning in which neither team scored.
• Salem pitcher Cody Scroggins held the Hillcats scoreless in the top of the ninth, setting up a walk-off situation for the Red Sox in the bottom of the frame.
• Trey Benton took over for the Hillcats looking to push the game into extra innings, but a single from Ceddane Rafaela put the winning run on the base paths for Salem.
• After Rafaela swiped second, Eduardo Lopez knocked him home with a single into right field handing the Hillcats a 11-10 loss in walk off fashion.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Angel Martinez went 4-5 with a home run, two RBIs, and two scored runs for Lynchburg.
• Alexfri Planez and Cody Farhat mashed the first back-to-back home runs for the Hillcats this season.
• The Hillcats and the Red Sox split the six game series 3-3.

WHO'S NEXT

The Hillcats have the day off Monday and are finally back at Bank of the James Stadium Tuesday. First pitch against the Delmarva Shorebirds is scheduled for 6:30pm.