Upcoming Games and Probable Pitchers Lynchburg
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TODAY’S MATCH-UP Hillcats Nationals LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (7-6) vs. POTOMAC NATIONALS (8-6) 7-6 Record 8-6 6-4 Home 4-3 Game 14 - Thursday, April 19, 2018, 7:05 p.m. - Pfitzner Stadium 1-2 Road 4-3 W3 Streak W1 4-1 Last 5 3-2 LHP Tanner Tully (1-0, 1.50) vs. RHP Wil Crowe (2-0, 3.60) 6-4 Last 10 6-4 .219 Batting Avg. .276 LAST GAME: The Hillcats recorded their first sweep of the season with a 4-1 win over the Keys. Zach Plesac went seven innings, giving up just one run, and facing only one 3.00 ERA 4.10 over the minimum. At one point he retired 10 consecutive batters, earning his first win of the season. Emmanuel Tapia drove in three runs for Lynchburg, including his first .968 Fielding Pct. .978 home run of the season, a go-ahead, two-run blast in the fifth. Kieran Lovegrove recorded his first save of the season with a perfect ninth inning. 37 Runs 84 2 HR 12 SUPER STARTERS: The Hillcats starting rotation has strung together a streak of seven consecutive starts in which they have gone five or more innings, and allowed one 32 RBI 75 earned run or fewer. In the team’s seven victories this season, they have allowed a combined seven runs, including tossing three shutouts. Justin Garza (0.00), Sam Hentges 53 BB 49 (0.56), and Tanner Tully (1.50) all sport top 10 ERAs in the Carolina League. The starting rotation as a whole boasts a 2.35 ERA this season. 115 K 108 12 SB 15 WELCOME TO THE CLUB: Just hours after being promoted to Lynchburg, infielder Dillon Persinger came up big for the Hillcats in his Advanced-A debut. Starting at second 1st HALF STANDINGS base against Frederick on Tuesday, Persinger enjoyed a two hit game, scoring the Hillcats first run in the third inning, and belting a two RBI double to left in the eighth to Northern Division GB provide a pair of critical insurance runs. Potomac 8-6 .571 - Salem 8-6 .571 - LAYING IT DOWN: Through 13 games this season, Jodd Carter leads the Hillcats with four bunt hits, including three over his last four starts. The Hillcat outfielder is now Lynchburg 7-6 .538 0.5 riding a six game hitting streak, and has reached base safely in seven straight games, both of which are team highs this season. Frederick 6-8 .429 2.0 Wilmington 5-8 .385 2.5 JUST-INCREDIBLE: Lynchburg starter Justin Garza has not allowed a run through two starts this season, and was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week on Mon- day. The right-hander has thrown 10 scoreless innings and has allowed just four hits while striking out 12. Garza is one of just four pitchers in the Carolina League that has not Southern Division allowed a run through his first two starts. He ranks first in the league in WHIP (0.60). Buies Creek 9-5 .643 - Carolina 8-6 .571 1.0 Logan Ice has been fantastic behind the plate this season, allowing just six earned runs in 51 innings behind the plate (1.05 ERA). The Tacoma, WA Winston-Salem 8-6 .571 1.0 ICE-ing ON THE CAKE: Down East 7-7 .500 2.0 native has been the Hillcats catcher for all three of their shutouts this season. Lynchburg is 5-1 this season when Ice is the starting backstop. Myrtle Beach 3-11 .214 6.0 SERIES MATCHUP K-KING KRAUTH: Through four appearances this season spanning 6.1 IP, Ben Krauth has racked up 13 strikeouts. He has recorded a punch out in every game he’s pitched and has struck out four in a game twice. The former Kansas Jayhawk ranks second in the Carolina League in strikeouts among relief pitchers. During his career, Krauth averag- Hillcats vs. POT (since ‘95) ...235-237 es better than a strikeout per game, including a career-high 92 in 78.2 IP in 2017. Opponents have hit just .193 against him since he started pitching professionally in 2016. At City Stadium ........ 122-119 (7-3) At Pfitzner Stadium .. 112-117 (9-6) 2017 IN REVIEW: The Hillcats enjoyed a dominant 2017 campaign en route to a league championship. Lynchburg racked up a league best 87 wins overall, capturing the Northern Division title in both the first and second half of the season. Lynchburg Defeated the Frederick Keys, 2-1, in the Divisional Series and excelled on both sides of the 2017 Overall 17-9 2017 at City Stadium 8-3 ball during their championship run. The Hillcats pitching staff finished with the league’s best team ERA (3.21) and walked the fewest batters (365). On the offensive side, 2017 at Pfitzner Stadium 9-6 Lynchburg tallied the third-best team batting average in the Carolina League (.258), finished with the second-most RBIs (577), runs (645), doubles (262) and slugging (.395). 4/19 at Potomac 7/9 vs Potomac TOP-30 IN LYNCHBURG: Conner Capel (No. 12), Sam Hentges (No. 17), Logan Ice (No. 21), and Mitch Longo (No. 27) are all Hillcats players that are ranked on the Indians 4/20 at Potomac 7/10 vs Potomac Top-30 prospect list.. Capel, an outfielder, batted .246 with 22 HR and 61 RBI in 119 games for the Single-A Lake County Captains last season. He was drafted by the Tribe in 4/21 at Potomac 7/11 vs Potomac 4/22 at Potomac 7/12 vs Potomac the 5th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Hentges, a left-hander, missed the majority of last season while he was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He appeared in 11 total 4/27 vs Potomac 8/21 vs Potomac games (all starts) and went 0-4 with a 3.23 ERA between the AZL Indians and short-season Mahoning Valley. Hentges struck out 41 in 30.2 IP, and was drafted by the Indians 4/28 vs Potomac 8/22 vs Potomac in the 4th round of the 2014 MLB Draft. Ice, a catcher, spent last season with Lake County and hit .228 with 11 HR and 42 RBI in 93 games. He was selected by Cleveland 4/29 vs Potomac 8/23 vs Potomac with the 72nd overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft. Longo, an outfielder, battled injuries last season and appeared in just 60 games. While he was healthy, he hit a combined 5/18 vs Potomac 8/24 at Potomac 5/19 vs Potomac 8/25 at Potomac .376 with 4 HR and 28 RBI between Lake County and Lynchburg. 5/20 vs Potomac 8/26 at Potomac 6/8 vs Potomac 6/9 vs Potomac HILLCATS COACHING STAFF 6/10 vs Potomac Rouglas Odor Tony Arnold Justin Toole Grant Fink Bobby Ruiz 2018 Overall 0-0 Manager (1st Season) Pitching Coach (2nd season) Hitting Coach (1st season) Bench Coach (1st season) Athletic Trainer (4th season) 5th overall 2018 at City Stadium 0-0 Career Record: 225-244 26th overall 3rd overall 2nd overall 2018 at Pfitzner Stadium 0-0 Odor is entering his 18th year Arnold returns to Lynchburg after serv- 2018 marks Toole’s first year on Fink joins the Hillcats as bench CATS AT GLANCE coaching in the Indians organization. ing as the pitching coach for the Hillcats Lynchburg’s coaching staff and third coach for the first time in 2018, He played in the minor leagues for the in 2015. The former right-handed in the Indians organization. The entering his second season as a North Division: 3rd/0.5 GB Indians & Brewers from 1988-1995. pitcher played collegiately at the Uni- former infielder played in parts of coach in the Indians organization. April: 7-6 Odor brings a decade of skipper expe- versity of Texas and was drafted by the seven minor league seasons with The former infielder was drafted by rience to Lynchburg. He led San Felipe Baltimore Orioles in the 10th round in Cleveland from 2009-2015, reach- Cleveland in the 23 rd round of the Last Home Stand: 3-0 in the Venezuelan Summer League the 1981 MLB Draft. The El Paso, Texas ing Triple-A Columbus. The Council 2013 MLB Draft out of Missouri Eric Oretego Extra Innings: 0-0 for two seasons from 1999-2000, the native played in parts of two MLB with Bluffs, Iowa native worked as the Western State University. A native Strength Coach (1st season) vs. RHP: 6-6 Burlington Indians for four seasons the Orioles in 1986 and 1987. Arnold hitting coach last year for Single-A of St. Joseph, Mo., Fink played in 2nd overall vs. LHP: 1-0 from 2001-2004, the Mahoning has coached in the Indians organization Lake County. parts of three minor league seasons Valley Scrappers for two years from since 1992 and most recently was the for the Indians from 2013-2015, vs. North: 4-2 2005-2006 and the Gulf Coast League pitching coach of the Akron Rubber- reaching Single-A Lake County. Fink vs. South: 3-4 Indians for two campaigns from 2007- Ducks, Cleveland’s Double-A affiliate, was the bench coach last season for One-Run Games: 3-0 2008. He spent the past three seasons for the past two seasons. Rookie-Level Mahoning Valley. as the hitting coach for the Columbus RECENT TRANSACTIONS Clippers, Cleveland’s Triple-A affiliate. 4/18 OF Jose Medina promoted from UPCOMING GAMES AND PROBABLE PITCHERS Single-A Lake County to Advanced-A Lynchburg, INF Anthony Miller placed Fri., April 20 at Potomac 7:05 p.m.