Saturday, September 12, 2009

Another dismal day

While the Pirates are getting beat around at the major league level including another humiliating loss in Houston, Pirate fans are having to look elsewhere for hope. The place to look is the Single A Playoffs and the Lynchburg Hillcats.

Hillcats won the first half of the season to qualify for the playoffs, but had a rough go in the second half without their two big bats. Yet, now they are fortified with the call-ups from the West Virginia Power (Low A), and they are ready to make a go for it.

The opening game was a tough loss. Justin Wilson gave up one earned run in five innings, but could not pitch around two errors in the second inning and the Hillcats lost 7-1. Jordy Mercer hit a homerun for the only Hillcat run.

The second of the best of five had a better outcome thanks to Ruby Owens, one of those late season call-ups from the Power. Owens out dueled Danny Duffy for Willimington in a 1-0 win. The Hillcats got their run on an RBI ground out by Matt Hague. Three hitless innings of relief helped the Hillcats hold on to even the series.

Last night was another loss for the Hillcats by a score of 2-0 as Willimington hit a walkoff homerun in the bottom of the 12th inning. The Hillcats had lots of opportunities to score including a bases loaded one out situation in the 4th and a leadoff triple in the 9th, but they failed. They also had a man thrown out a home plate in the 12th. Still one has to be impressed with the pitching.

The stats are encouraging for some. Mercer looks decent with his average remembering he also has a homerun. And Matt Hague’s .417 average is exciting. D’Arnaud and Sanchez are below hopes, but Sanchez is actually raising his average after not getting a hit at all in game one.

Don’t forget to follow Team USA. Pedro Alvarez is 2 for 13 with an RBI, and Brad Lincoln is on the team as well.

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