Minor League Report 905: Hillcats Fight for 14 Innings

The Hillcats led from the third inning until the ninth tonight, but eventually fell 2-1 in 14 frames. The game took four hours and 30 minutes. It took 438 pitches, thrown by 13 different pitchers to find a winner. Potomac outfielder Michael Taylor was the hero with a two-out RBI-single in the bottom of the 14th, driving home Mike Gilmartin from third base. Prior to that hit, the Nationals were 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Hillcats starter Greg Ross threw six scoreless innings and struck out a career-high 10, but took a no-decision.

Emerson Landoni drove in the first run of the game in the third inning. With two outs and Cory Brownsten at second base, he slapped a soft liner into right field. Brownsten scored and it was 1-0 Hillcats. The one run lead looked like enough as Ross was dealing for the Hillcats.

Ross was perfect through the first three innings. He then walked the first batter in the fourth to break up the perfect game. The next man singled to end the no-no. Ross maintained the shutout though. He hit another batter but struck two in a row with the bases loaded to get out of the jam. Ross stranded single runners in the fifth and sixth innings while striking out a pair in both frames. He finished the night allowing just two hits, walking one, hitting two, and striking out 10.

The bullpen took over starting in the seventh. Brandon Cunniff pitched the seventh scoreless, and got the first two out of the eighth. John Cornely then came in to get the final out of the inning. He struck out Taylor with a runner at second base and two outs. Still up 1-0, Cornely came back out for the ninth. He walked the first man, catcher Adrian Nieto. Will Piwinica-Worms entered to pinch-run for Nieto. Cornely struck out Kevin Keyes and induced a pop-up to first base off the bat of Brandon Miller. Randolph Oduber then doubled to right-center field, and Piwinica-Worms scored all the way from first base to tie the game. The game went to extras tied 1-1.

Both offenses continued to struggle going scoreless until the 14th. The HIllcats loaded the bases in the 13th inning but failed to score. Meanwhile, the Nationals stranded a pair of runners in both the 12th and 13th innings. Finally, in the 14th inning Taylor delivered the walk-off RBI.

Robert Fish started the 14th frame in relief for Lynchburg. He hit a batter and gave up a single. Cutter Dykstra then put down a sacrifice bunt pushing runners to second and third with one out. Wilson Rivera was called upon out of the bullpen, the seventh pitcher of the night for the Hillcats. He induced a pop-out to right field from Adrian Sanchez before Taylor singled to left field to end the game.

Fish (0-1) took the loss, while Brian Dupra (1-0) earned the win for Potomac. Dupra tossed two scoreless innings of relief in the 13th and 14th.

Game two of the series will be played Thursday night at 7:05pm at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, VA. LHP Ryan Hinson (4-4, 2.48) will start for the Hillcats against RHP Blake Schwartz (11-4, 2.65) for Potomac. If the Hillcats lose, they will be eliminated from the playoffs

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LYNCHBURG FINAL STATS

BATTING: Rohm (.302); Hefflinger (.286); E. Reyes (.285).
HITS: Rohm (150); Lipka (132); E. Reyes (.125).
RUNS: Rohm (77), Lipka (76); Kubitza (75).
DOUBLES: Rohm (33); Reyes (30); Lipka (29); Kubitza (28).
TRIPLES: Rohm (8); Lipka (7); Kubitza (6).
HOME RUNS: Hefflinger (21); Skinner (16); Kubitza (12).
RBIs: Reyes (60); Kubitza (57); Rohm (53); Hefflinger 52).
OPS: Hefflinger (.917); Kubitza (.814); Rohm (.755).
GAMES PITCHED: Hyatt (43); Cornely (42); Rivera (40).
WINS: Miller, Ross (9); Moore (7).
SAVES: Hyatt (12); Cornely (11); two with 2.
INNINGS: Miller (147); Ross (121); Holland (120).
STRIKEOUTS: Miller (122); Ross (91); Rivera (86).
ERA: Ross (3.27); Miller (3.73); Holland (4.80).
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SOUTHERN LEAGUE

First Round Playoffs

Mobile 3, Mississippi 2 (7th)

SP: Lee 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K.
Jaime 0.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K.
Bethancourt 2-3, R; Salcedo 2-3, 2B, R, SB; Martinez 0-2, 2 RBI; Pedroza 1-3; La Stella 1-2,BB.

CAROLINA LEAGUE

First Round Playoffs

Potomac 3, Lynchburg 2 Walk-off hit by Will Piwnica-Worms (no, really) after 2B, PB (run unearned)

SP: Hinson 5.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 K.
LP: Lugo 3 IP, 3 H, 0 ER(1R), 1 BB, 7 K.
Elander 1-4, 2B, R; E. Reyes 1-3, 2B, 2 RBI; Landoni 1-3; Hyams 1-4; Kubitza 1-4, R.
Lynchburg eliminated 2-0.

M-Braves lose game one, but they'd won with better defense. Salcedo made a throwing error that led to Mobile tying the game 1-1 in the 4th. Salcedo made up for it with a 6th inning lead-off double and sneak attack steal of third (scored on a ground out right after the steal). Then with the M-Braves leading 2-1 in 6th Mobile hit a catchable ball to Martinez in right. He tried for it and missed it, that made it first and third and one out. The next batter hit a grounder to second, but it went right between La Stella's legs to tie the game 2-2. The ball that went between La Stella's legs was shockingly rule a hit. I reckon that's hometown playoff scoring for you (unless your name is Simmons and you play in Atlanta). Mobile took the lead an inning later against Jaime on a squeeze play after a couple hits. This was the end of the scoring in game one of the series.

Braves starter Lee really pitched great and deserved a win. La Stella had a few singles and a walk but showed why his defense is questioned. However, I still have a hard time believing he's worse than Uggla defensively.

Hopefully the M-Braves can take game two and even the series.

A great sign from last night is that CB/LaStealla/Salcedo had good games at the plate against Archie Bradley who is arguably the top pitching prospect in baseball.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thethe

A great sign from last night is that CB/LaStealla/Salcedo had good games at the plate against Archie Bradley who is arguably the top pitching prospect in baseball.

Good point. They were talking about during the game how beating him would be huge. Hopefully they will next time.