Hillcats Take 14 Inning Marathon From Sox

Salem, VA (August 6, 2014) - Joe Odom knocked a solo home run in the top of the fourteenth inning to lift the Lynchburg Hillcats to a 2-1 victory over the Salem Red Sox at LewisGale Field Wednesday night. The homer came off Salem's starting first baseman Matt Gedman, who was working his second inning on the mound. Odom's blast capped off a 4-for-6 night, with two runs scored.

 

Gedman was saddled with the loss despite allowing just one hit in two innings in his first professional appearance on the hill. Brady Feigl picked up the win for Lynchburg, throwing three scoreless innings from the eleventh to the thirteenth. Benino Pruneda got the save for Lynchburg.

 

Salem started the scoring in the second. Gedman doubled off Lynchburg starter Blair Walters, followed by an RBI single by Kevin Heller to give the Sox an early 1-0 edge. Salem would not score over the final 12 innings of the ballgame. Walters went seven innings in a no decision, allowing just the run on seven hits, striking out five.

 

Lynchburg was held off the board through the first eight innings. The Cats did load the bases twice off Sox starter Cody Kukuk, but the Sox got out of the fourth and fifth with the game still 1-0 in their favor. Kukuk allowed just two hits and no runs in five innings. He struck out six and walked four. Matty Ott was outstanding out of the bullpen for Salem, throwing three scoreless innings.

 

Nate Reed came on for the save in the ninth, allowing a lead off single to Odom. After a sacrifice bunt, David Nick doubled down the left field line, scoring Odom and tying the game at one. Reed would settle in from that point, giving the Sox four innings out of the pen, surrendering the lone ninth inning run.

 

With the Sox bullpen short on arms, Gedman relieved Reed in the thirteenth. He struck out the first two hitters he faced, eventually getting Lynchburg 1-2-3 in the inning. Gedman retired four in a row overall before Odom's game winning blast.

 

Salem tries to avoid the sweep tomorrow night, with first pitch again at 7:05. Jacob Dahlstrand makes his second Carolina League start for the Sox with Wes Parsons on the bump for the Cats.