Wes Rogers' Grand Slam in the Ninth Not Enough in 7-6 Loss to Lynchburg

ZEBULON, NC - Wes Rogers brought the Mudcats within one of the lead with a two-out grand slam in the ninth, but Lynchburg reliever Jonathan Teaney struck out the next batter he faced as the Hillcats held on for a 7-6 victory versus the Mudcats on Wednesday afternoon at Five County Stadium in Zebulon.

The Mudcats (28-18) were down 7-1 heading into the final frame, but went on to score five runs with four on Rogers' grand slam off the video board in left. Their first run of the late rally came across on a bases loaded, two-out, strikeout wild pitch with Devin Hairston batting. Rogers then connected on his grand slam, which counted as his first home run of the season and Carolina's first grand slam of 2019.
Teaney remained in the game in relief for the Hillcats (22-22) following the grand slam and eventually finished the game with a strikeout of Zach Clark. Teaney pitched through a total of two innings and allowed five unearned runs on two hits. He also walked two and struck out five.
Juan Hillman started for the Hillcats and pitched through seven strong frames while holding the Mudcats to one unearned run and three hits. Hillman (W, 2-4, 2.61) walked two and struck out two and used just 79 pitches (45 strikes) to get through seven complete frames.
Lynchburg's offense spotted Hillman with an early lead after scoring three times in the first on a three-run double from Gavin Collins. They then gave him a few more to work with on a two-run home run from Jose Vicente in the fourth and a solo shot from Oscar Gonzalez in the fifth. All six of those Lynchburg runs between first and fifth were scored on Carolina's starter Dylan File who worked through five innings in the loss.
File (L, 4-4, 3.73) walked the first batter he faced in Wednesday's game and then went on to allow consecutive singles before getting a bases loaded infield pop out from Gonzalez. Collins, however, then followed with his three-run double to left as the Hillcats took the early 3-0 lead. File went on retire the next nine straight Lynchburg batters before giving up a single to Luke Wakamatsu in the fourth. Vicente then followed his two-run, two-out homer in the fourth and Gonzalez added his with two outs in the fifth.
In all, File struck out five and allowed six runs on seven hits over five innings pitched. He also walked a season high two batters and allowed two home runs in the loss.
Carolina was down 6-0 in the fifth before getting their first run of the game across against Hillman and the Hillcats. Eddie Silva started that frame by reaching on an error and moved to third on a single from Pat McInerney before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Hairston.
McInerney had two hits in the game for the Mudcats as went 2-for-4 with a run. Silva and Hairston both scored once and both went 1-for-4 in the game for Carolina.
The Hillcats scored their final run of the game in the eighth after Vicente singled and scored on a RBI hit from Wilbis Santiago. Both hits came off reliever J.T. Hintzen and were two of four hits allowed by Hintzen over three innings pitched. Hintzen walked two, struck out three and allowed one run on four hits over the final three innings pitched.
Chris Dula also pitched in the game for the Mudcats as he worked through a scoreless sixth with two walks, two strikeouts and one walk.
Carolina previously won games one and two in the four game set before Wednesday's loss and now lead the series two games to one. Thursday's series finale will feature RHP Nelson Hernandez (5-1, 5.21) starting for the Mudcats as they look for the series win. The game will air live on the Mudcats Radio Network, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM and online at carolinamudcats.com via TuneIn Radio.
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