LYNCHBURG, VA - The Mudcats had a 5-2 lead in the eighth, but the Hillcats rallied for four runs over the final two innings while defeating the Mudcats 6-5 in game one of a three game series in Lynchburg on Saturday night.
LYNCHBURG, VA - The Mudcats had a 5-2 lead in the eighth, but the Hillcats rallied for four runs over the final two innings while defeating the Mudcats 6-5 in game one of a three game series in Lynchburg on Saturday night.
Reliever Nattino Diplan allowed only one of the final four runs to score, but ended up with the loss as his run allowed came across as the game winner in the ninth. The winning run scored as Diplan (5-2, 3.64) lost his second wild pitch of the inning to score Anthony Miller from third, lifting the Hillcats (17-13, 46-51) to the series opening victory.
Miller started the Lynchburg ninth with a single to right before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. He then went to third on a wild pitch and was then joined on base by Ernie Clement and Conner Capel who were hit by a pitch and intentionally walked respectively. Carolina (15-13, 49-49) had loaded its infield with five infielders before Capel was hit and still had five infielders set up when Diplan lost his bases loaded wild pitch to score Miller.
Diplan originally entered the game in the eighth in place of fellow reliever Jorge Ortega. He retired one of his two batters faced in the eighth and, in all, allowed one run and one hit over 2/3 of an inning in Saturday's loss. Ortega (BS, 1) inherited a 4-0 lead when he first entered in place of starter Cam Roegner in the sixth inning. Ortega, though, would go on to allow two runs in the sixth and five runs on six hits overall in his Mudcats debut.
The Hillcats had cut the lead to 4-2 after the sixth, but Ryan Aguilar later answered with a run scoring hit in the eighth while lifting his club to a 5-2 advantage. That lead, however, disappeared as Ortega allowed three runs on three hits, including a game tying home run to Lynchburg's Li-Jen Chu in the eighth while losing the late lead.
Chu led the way for Lynchburg while going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in the game. He also had a run scoring hit in the two run sixth. Gavin Collins also had a multi-hit game as he went 2-for-4 with two run and two RBI.
Pat McInerney meanwhile led the Mudcats as he went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scoring single. His run scoring single came in the fourth and sparked a three run frame for the Mudcats. Nick Roscetti also had a run scoring hit and was 1-for-4 in the game.
Sam Hentges started for the Hillcats and allowed McInerney's RBI hit in the fourth. He was also on the mound when Carolina scored twice more in the fourth on a throwing error by Chu during a botched, bases loaded, double play attempt.
Hentges pitched into the sixth and finished with four runs (two earned) allowed on five hits. He also walked four (including three in the fourth) and struck out nine. He was followed by reliever R.C. Orlan who ended up allowing an inherited runner to score while working through one full inning with one strikeout. Michah Miniard later pitched the seventh and eighth and struck out three. He did, however, allow a run and one hit before giving way to James Karinchak in the ninth. Karinchak (1-1, 1.07) earned the victory after striking out two and pitching a scoreless ninth.
Roegner started for Carolina and struck out three while scattering four hits over five scoreless innings pitched. He left the game with Carolina leading 3-0 in the sixth and after reaching 65 pitches (48 strikes).
The three game series win continue on Sunday evening with game two and a 5:00 p.m. start time. RHP Devin Williams will start for Carolina in Sunday's game in Lynchburg. The game will air on the Mudcats Radio Network, the Big Dawg 98.5 FM and via TuneIn Radio at carolinamudcats.com.
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