Sox Stifled Again in 2-1 Loss to Hillcats Friday

SALEM, VA (Friday, August 18, 2017) - The Salem Red Sox saw their offensive woes continue Friday night, going 0-8 with runners in scoring position and stranding the tying and winning runs in the ninth to fall 2-1 to the Lynchburg Hillcats at Calvin Falwell Field.
The Sox (28-27, 68-56) lost their second straight game and fourth of five, and dropped a season-high seven games out of first place. Lynchburg (35-20, 75-49) earned their ninth win in their last 11 games, benefiting from a superb starting performance and lockdown relief in the clutch. The Sox have gone hitless in their last 15 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Lynchburg got things going early against Salem starter Kyle Hart (L, 2-2). With one out in the bottom of the first, Willi Castro turned around the first pitch he saw for a huge solo homer, helping Lynchburg to a 1-0 lead. However, Salem bounced back quickly, as Tate Matheny belted a solo dinger of his own in the top of the second against Lynchburg starting pitcher Aaron Civale to even things up at 1-1.
The Hillcats retook the lead in the bottom of the second, as Hart was able to get to two outs with the bases empty. But Claudio Bautista got a hold of a Hart fastball and lifted a solo homer out of the yard to put the Hillcats back in front 2-1.
The Salem offense stagnated at that point, going from Conrad Gregor's leadoff single in the fourth to Victor Acosta's two-out single in the eighth without a single runner reaching base. In the top of the ninth, Chris Madera drew a leadoff walk from reliever Jared Robinson (H, 6), and moved up to second on a bunt by Jeremy Rivera. New reliever Ben Krauth (S, 2) issued a wild pitch, allowing Madera to reach third, and Gregor walked to put runners at the corners. However, Krauth recovered to fan Jose Sermo and Jordan Betts to end the game.
Hart pitched well despite the early homers, surrendering just those two runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings and whiffing eight while taking the hard-luck loss. Adam Lau struck out one in a perfect inning of relief.
The Sox will look for better results Saturday night, with righty Roniel Raudes getting the ball for Salem against Hillcats ace Triston McKenzie. First pitch from Falwell Field is at 6:00 p.m., and Ben Gellman's pregame show starts at 5:45 p.m. on ESPN Roanoke, ESPN Blacksburg, and on the Red Sox Radio Network online.