Hillcats Push Past Sox in Extra Innings

SALEM, VA – Yainer Diaz plays villain and drives in the game-winning run in the top of the tenth inning. In consecutive games, the Lynchburg Hillcats (23-19) and Salem Red Sox (24-20) go to extra innings. This bout was was taken by Lynchburg 5-4.

In the top of the second Bradley Blalock delivered an errant pitch in the top of the second giving way to Ike Freeman trotting home to score on a passed ball. The Red Sox would later even things at one on a Stephen Scott RBI groundout.

In the top of the seventh Cody Farhat snapped the tie when he doubled high off the right field wall scoring Eduardo Lopez. A few batters later Yordys Valdes reached on a fielding error by Matthew Lugo scoring Cody Farhat. After a sacrifice fly from Angel Martinez, the Hillcats found themselves in front by three runs.

In the bottom of the seventh frame the Sox put some pressure on Lynchburg. Gilberto Jimenez skied a fly ball to shallow center field. Upon Alexfri Planez making the catch, Luke Bandy opted to put pressure on the defense and try his arm. The throw was far off line to the right which opened the door for Nick Yorke to score on the throwing error from second.

The very next inning the Red Sox tied the game at 4-4 after Liam Jenkins (2-0) walked in Eduardo Lopez with the bases loaded.

In the extra frame Lynchburg provided an RBI single from Yainer Diaz, and got a 1-2-3 inning from Jaime Arias-Bautista (S, 2). The final score of Wednesday’s game was 5-4 in favor of Lynchburg.

First pitch: 7:09 PM

Time of game: 3:38

Attendance: 1,861

Venue: Salem Memorial Ballpark