Bullpen collapses in 8th as Mudcats fall 7-6 to Lynchburg
Relievers Michael O’Neal and Chase Johnson-Mullins lost a three run eighth-inning lead and allowed the Hillcats to rally for five late runs as the Mudcats lost to visiting Lynchburg 7-6 at Five County Stadium on Saturday night.
The Mudcats (11-12) led 5-2 going into the eighth, but saw the lead evaporate as the Northern Division-leading Hillcats (17-6) rallied for five runs and three hits in the inning to take their first lead of the game.
Reed Harper was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored in the loss for Carolina.
The victory evened the series at a game apiece between Lynchburg and Carolina. The rubber game is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon at Five County Stadium in Zebulon. The Mudcats will start RHP Matt Withrow (0-1, 0.79) in the series finale. The Hillcats will go with the Carolina League ERA and wins leader RHP Julian Merryweather (4-0, 0.76).
Saturday’s box score
Lynchburg | ab | r | h | bi |
Allen, CF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cheng-Chang, SS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Santander, DH | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Bradley, 1B | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Paulino, LF | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Papi, RF | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Mathias, 2B | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Loopstock, C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Bautista, 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Totals | 33 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
Carolina | ab | r | h | bi |
Gaylor, CF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Obregon, SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Curcio, LF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Edgerton, 3B | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Davidson, RF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Meneses, 1B | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Odom, DH | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Murphy, C | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Harper, 2B | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Totals | 31 | 6 | 10 | 4 |
Lynchburg | 000 | 001 | 150 | — | 7 | 6 | 1 |
Carolina | 011 | 201 | 010 | — | 6 | 10 | 2 |
E — Milbrath; Lawlor; Obregon. DP–Chang-Mathias-Bradley. LOB–Lynchburg 7; Carolina 8. 2B–Chang; Mathias; Edgerton; Odom; Harper; Meneses. HR—Bradley (6). SF–Bautista, C; Curcio. SB–Gaylor. CS—Harper; Gaylor.
Hillcats IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |
Lugo | 5 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Garcia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Eubank (W, 1-0) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Milbrath (S, 1) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Totals | 9 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
Mudcats IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |
Lawlor | 6 1/3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
O’Neal (H, 1) | 2/3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Johnson-Mullins (L, 0-1) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Parsons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Totals | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 3 |
This story was originally published April 30, 2016 at 7:30 PM with the headline "Bullpen collapses in 8th as Mudcats fall 7-6 to Lynchburg."