Lynchburg loses early lead, drops third straight

Lynchburg, Va. - The Lynchburg Hillcats let an early three-run lead slip away in a 10-5 loss to the Potomac Nationals on Monday night.
Lynchburg (7-5) allowed seven unanswered runs at one point to Potomac (6-6), as the Hillcats have now lost three straight.

After Lynchburg took a 3-0 lead with a three-run first, Potomac put together a four-run second inning and never looked back. Jakson Reetz led off the inning by working a walk against Adam Scott  (Loss, 1-1) and Nick Banks was hit by a pitch. Gage Canning hit into a force out at second base to put runners at the corners with one out. Up next was David Masters, and he hit a ground ball right back to Scott, but the pitcher threw the ball wide of second base for an error, allowing Reetz to score. Later in the frame, Anderson Franco and Cole Freeman each ripped RBI singles, with the fourth run of the inning scoring on another throwing error from Scott.
The P-Nats added three more in the fourth. Canning led off the inning with a solo home run off of Nick Gallagher , to widen the gap to 5-3. With one out, Franco doubled and Freeman walked to put two aboard. In stepped Telmito Agustin, who blooped a two-run double to left field, extending Potomac's lead to 7-3.
Lynchburg fought back to make it a two run game in the fourth. The Hillcats loaded the bases on singles from Mike Rivera and Dillon Persinger , and a walk from Steven Kwan . Tyler Friis  followed knocked a two-run single to right field to trim the deficit to 7-5.
The Nationals would put the game out of reach with a three-run sixth. Franco delivered a two-run single and Jakson Reetz picked up an RBI knock to give Potomac a 10-5 edge.
Lynchburg took a brief lead in the first inning. The Hillcats loaded the bases on a single from Kwan, and a pair of walks by Friis and Nolan Jones . Kwan scored on a wild pitch to start the scoring. Oscar Gonzalez  hit an RBI ground out, and Trenton Brooks  knocked an RBI single for a 3-0 advantage before Potomac's offensive outburst. 
Scott (1-1) allowed four runs (two earned) over 1.2 innings. After Yapson Gomez  fired 1.1 scoreless frames, Gallagher surrendered six runs (three earned) on four hits in 2.2 innings.
Luis Reyes started for Potomac, and allowed five earned runs in six hits in 3.2 innings, walking three and punching out four. Grant Borne (Win, 1-0) earned the win for the Nationals after he tossed 3.1 scoreless frames while striking out two batters. Steven Fuentes capped off the night by firing two clean innings out of the P-Nats bullpen.
The Hillcats continue their series against the Nationals on Tuesday. Right-hander Jean Carlos (1-0, 0.82 ERA) will toe the slab for Lynchburg against P-Nats right-hander Kyle Johnston (0-2, 5.40). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at City Stadium. 
Tomorrow will be Kids Eat Free Tuesday, where all kids in attendance will receive a free meal from the concession stand, presented By MedExpress.

Max Gun and Anders Jorstad will be on the air beginning at 6:20 p.m. on TuneIn Radio and Radio434.    
For tickets and more information, visit lynchburg-hillcats.com, the City Stadium box office, or call 434-528-1144.