Sox strike first, fall short to Hillcats

LYNCHBURG, Virginia (April 8, 2019) - Ryan Fitzgerald flew 270 feet around the bases on a passed ball to start Salem scoring in the first inning but the Red Sox were bested late by the Lynchburg Hillcats 5-2 Monday evening at City Stadium.
How it Happened
* Fitzgerald singled in the first, subsequently scoring on a passed ball by Gavin Collins while Tanner Nishioka batted to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.
* Errors struck Lynchburg once more in the fourth as Michael Osinski reached on a fielding error that brought Nishioka home to extend the lead 2-0.
* The Hillcats cut the lead 2-1 in the bottom of the frame with a sacrifice fly.
* Steven Kwan knocked an RBI single in the fifth inning to tie the game at 2, Tyler Friis driving him in with a double for a 3-2 lead.
* The final Hillcats runs crossed in the eighth when Austen Wade tripled, scoring a run and himself on a throwing error.

Standout Sox
* Ryan Fitzgerald: 2-for-4, R
* Tanner Nishioka: 1-for-2, R, BB

Noteworthy
This is the first game of the Red Sox 2019 season where no runs were scored on offensive plays (passed ball, error)

What's Next
Salem Red Sox at Lynchburg Hillcats, Tuesday, April 9, 2019. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 EST
RHP Kutter Crawford vs. RHP Justin Garza
 
Listen: SalemSox.com, TuneIn Radio, ESPN Blacksburg WKEX 1430 AM/94.1 FM, ESPN Roanoke WGMN 1240 AM/93.3 FM
Watch: MiLB TV
The Salem Red Sox are the Advanced-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and call Haley Toyota Field in Salem, Virginia home. The team was founded in 1968 and purchased by Fenway Sports Management in December of 2007. For more information on the Salem Red Sox, please visit SalemRedSox.com or contact Melanie Newman at [email protected]