Hillcats Pitching Shuts Down Shorebirds

Lynchburg, Virginia – The Lynchburg Hillcats (45-44) held the Delmarva Shorebirds (48-41) to just one run and smashed a pair of home runs to even the series at three apiece in game six at Bank of the James Stadium.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Hillcats struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Angel Martinez knocked an infield single, coming home on a Johnathan Rodriguez two-bagger.
• TT Bowens tied the game up right away by smashing a solo shot off Lynchburg starter Juan Zapata in the top of the second inning.
• Korey Holland gave Lynchburg the lead back when he crushed his third home run of the year 429 feet over the left field wall to put Lynchburg up 2-1 in the bottom of the third.
• The Hillcats stretched the lead to two when Alexfri Planez went yard to center field in the bottom of the fourth off Delmarva starter Jake Lyons. It was Planez’s team-high 12th homer of the season.
• After the Bowens bomb, Zapata locked in and tossed four more scoreless innings for Lynchburg. The Hillcats hurler earned his second quality start of the season, going six and giving up just four hits in his stellar outing.
• The ‘Cats added two more scores in the bottom of the sixth on a bases loaded walk and a wild pitch that allowed Planez to race home.
• Lynchburg’s final tally came in the seventh after Jhonkensy Noel smoked a double to right-center field. Noel proceeded to steal third and scored on a Rickey Ramirez wild pitch to put the Hillcats up 6-1.
• ‘Cats reliever Cade Smith picked up a save after going three innings on the mound. The righty fanned four and allowed just one hit to silence the Shorebirds and lift Lynchburg to a five run victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The win was the third time this series Lynchburg has held Delmarva to just one score.
• Hillcats slugger Jhonkensy Noel swiped his second bag of the year on Saturday.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Hillcats take on Delmarva Saturday night in game seven of a seven game set. First pitch is set for 5:00pm.