Tensions Flare in Kinston

5/14/22 Game Recap

by: Jackson Pass

Mitch Bratt started on the mound for the Woodies tonight in game five of the six game series between the Lynchburg Hillcats and the Down East Wood Ducks. The Hillcats threatened early with a walk and single allowed two on, where a wild pitch moved them up to second and third, but failed to drive any runners in. The Woodies scored first in the bottom half of the first with Alejandro Osuna crossing the plate, after reaching base on a leadoff infield single, as Tucker Mitchell grounded into a double play. One run is all the Woodies could put up in the first on starter Trenton Denholm of the Hillcats.

Both pitchers continued to deal through four innings, where Bratt’s night ended with three strikeouts up 1-0. Denholm amassed seven strikeouts through four innings of work as he continued to throw. Larson Kindreich was called in from the Duck Blind in the top of the fifth to try and hold onto the lead, but failed to do so. The Hillcats in the top of the fifth had a walk and single with a two RBI double by Wilfri Peralta, taking the lead up to 2-1, along with a single from Dayan Frias that scored Peralta from second, and a sac fly from Jake Fox that scored Luis Durango. The Hillcats were now up 4-1.

Kindreich regained good form in the top of the sixth, where he recorded two strikeouts on three batters. Denholm was replaced in the bottom of the sixth and went 5.0 innings, recording nine strikeouts on the night. New pitcher for the Hillcats was Hugo Villalobos, where the Woodies only were able to get one runner on with a single by Jose Rodriguez. Kindreich had retired nine straight through the sixth, seventh, and eighth. Yenci Pena, in the seventh, hit a solo bomb to left field, going 380 feet, making the game 4-2 Hillcats ahead.

In the ninth tensions rose in Kinston as the Woodies were up for their last chance to mount a comeback and win this game against closer Trey Benton. A controversial call was made in center field on a fly ball that might have hit the ground, originally ruled a hit by the home plate umpire, but was challenged by the Hillcats manager, where the call was overturned into an out. Steve Mintz, manager of the Woodies stormed at the umpires from the third base coaching box and was ejected arguing the call, which would have made it runner on first with the tying run at the plate. On a strikeout call to end the game in a 4-2 Hillcats victory, the benches between the sides almost cleared as there was chirping between both teams, but both teams coaches held their players back.

The Wood Ducks (13-19) and Lynchburg Hillcats (17-14) continue their series tomorrow, on Sunday, May 15th, with the Lynchburg Hillcats extending the series lead at 4-1, as the first pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. in Kinston, NC at Grainger Stadium.

Fans can purchase tickets on woodducksbaseball.com, by calling the Wood Ducks Team Offices at (252) 686-5164 or in the Wood Ducks Team Offices located at Grainger Stadium (Mon-Fri – 9am - 4pm). Make sure to follow your Down East Wood Ducks on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook so you don’t miss anything!