Keys one-hit error-prone Hillcats

It’s hard to tell which aspect of the Hillcats’ 5-0 loss to Frederick on Monday was more embarrassing:

1) the five errors they committed, or …

2) the one hit they managed all night.

Either way, it added up to a loss as Lynchburg (25-38) began its final seven-game stretch of the season.

Let’s start with the errors …

Four of them came in the first three innings, leading to two unearned runs as Frederick (27-37) jumped to a 5-0 lead that proved insurmountable.

“You ain’t going to win games if you’ve got five errors,” Hillcats manager Jeff Branson said. “Especially the kind of errors we made, on routine plays.”

With Frederick runners at first and third in the first inning, Hillcats third baseman Eddie Prasch booted a short-hopper off the bat of Chris Vinyard that was anything but routine. Still, it prevented him from attempting to make a play at the plate or trying to turn two, giving the Keys a 1-0 lead.

As for the third inning, there was no excusing that.

Lynchburg starter Michael Crotta (9-10) gave up a legitimate run when Brandon Snyder slapped a one-out RBI single to right that also put runners at the corners.

That’s when the Hillcats cued up the Benny Hill theme song.

Vinyard was up next and hit a grounder to short that could have been an inning-ending double play. But second baseman Matt Cavagnaro dropped Brian Friday’s throw. Everyone was safe and the Keys led 3-0.

Brandon Tripp batted next and hit a line drive that Hillcats left fielder Jared Keel misplayed, coming in too far only to watch it go over his head. It was ruled a two-base error and another run scored.

Finally, Billy Rowell tapped a two-out grounder back to Crotta, who sailed his throw high to first. Rowell was safe, another run came across and Frederick led 5-0.

“Those kind of errors we made tonight? Absolutely inexcusable, even if it was the first game of the year,” Branson said. “They were just lackadaisical errors that can’t happen if you expect to win the game.”

All things considered, Crotta did not pitch poorly, giving up three earned runs in six innings. He tied a season-high with seven strikeouts.

But he was no match for Frederick’s throng of pitchers — five in all — who combined on a one-hitter.

Expected starter Jake Renshaw was a late scratch, forcing the Keys to improvise. They did, with remarkable success. Brett Bordes, Ryan Oullette (4-7), Mick Mattaliano, Jose Barajas and Ryan Rodriguez filled the nine innings, striking out six and walking six, but most importantly, keeping the Hillcats off the scoreboard.

It had shades of Sunday night, when the Keys got seven no-hit innings from starter Kyle Schmidt at Salem but lost 2-1 when the Avalanche mounted a ninth-inning rally.

There would be no such drama Monday night. Lynchburg didn’t manage a hit until the sixth, when, with one out, Friday snuck a grounder inside third base and down the line for a double.

But that was it, a surprisingly futile offensive effort for a Hillcats squad that averaged 6.7 runs and 11 hits during a recent six-game road trip that resulted in five wins and one loss.

“We just didn’t get good pitches to hit and when we did, we weren’t ready to him them,” Branson said. “I’m hoping it was just today.”

NOTES: Keel was named Carolina League player of the week after hitting .409 (9-for-22) with four home runs, eight runs and nine RBIs in six games. He is the second Hillcat to get the award this year, joining Jamie Romak. … Frederick 2B Miguel Abreu and Snyder had three hits apiece. … RHP Kevin Roberts threw three shutout innings of relief for Lynchburg, striking out three. … The Hillcats are six games back of the final playoff spot in the Northern Division with six games to play.