Hillcats Picking up Steam, Win 3-1

The Hillcats beat the Frederick Keys 3-1 behind another scoreless outing from their starter. Jarett Miller kept the Keys from scoring for six innings tonight on his way to his eighth win of the season. Zach Davies matched Miller for five innings before Levi Hyams went deep in the sixth to spark a three-run game-winning rally.

Miller surrendered just one hit tonight. Glynn Davis doubled with one out in the second inning, but went stranded at second base. The Keys threatened again without a hit in the fourth when Miller walked Aaron Baker and Jerome Pena back-to-back with one out. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch but again Miller got out of the jam with a line out and a strikeout. After the two walks, Miller retired the last eight batters he faced.

The Hillcats (13-21, 49-54) rallied in the sixth inning. Davies had just struck out the side in order in the fifth, giving him eight strikeouts in five scoreless frames. Hyams the led off the sixth with a home run, his second of the season. Davies then fanned David Rohm looking giving him a career-best nine on the night. Josh Elander followed with a single, and then Trent Moses doubled down the left field line scoring Elander and knocking Davies out of the game. Miguel Chalas entered in relief. He walked two to load the bases, and then Elmer Reyes hit a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Moses. All three runs charged against Davies (5-5), who would take the loss.

The Keys (15-21, 49-56) broke up the shutout in the ninth inning. Baker hit a solo homer off of John Cornely with one out snapping Cornely's 14 consecutive scoreless innings streak. The next two batters grounded out to first base, and Cornely held on for his third save of the season.

The series finale will be tomorrow at 7pm, when the Hillcats go for the sweep of the Keys in Frederick. Lynchburg will throw RHP Williams Perez (2-1, 0.95) against RHP Zach Clark (0-2, 19.16) for the Keys. The Hillcats On-Deck Show powered by Honda/Suzuki of Lynchburg will go on the air at 6:40pm. Listen live to Erik Wilson with the call on 97.9 FM The Planet and online at lynchburg-hillcats.com