Rosero’s double helps spare Hillcats from sweep

Ninth batter Ciro Rosero broke open a 4-4 tie with a two-run double to cap a four-run sixth inning, helping the Lynchburg Hillcats avoid a sweep with a 7-5 triumph in the fourth and final game of their series against the Potomac Nationals, Thursday night at Pfitzner Stadium.

Matt Hague, who opened the sixth with a double, and Kent Sakamoto delivered back-to-back, two-out RBI doubles to give the Hillcats a 2-0 lead in the top of the first before Christopher Marrero put the Nationals on top 3-2 with his 13th home run, a two-out, three-run shot to left in the bottom of the inning.

After Potomac rallied for a run in the seventh, Lynchburg picked up some insurance in the ninth, scoring its only unearned run. Leadoff batter Jose De Los Santos greeted relief pitcher R.J. Rodriguez with a bunt back to the mound for a base hit. He then stole his 36th base of the season and scored on two throwing errors — one on a pickoff attempt by catcher Devin Ivany at second and one on the throw from center fielder Boomer Whiting to third.

The Hillcats open a six-game homestand tonight at 7:05 against the Salem Red Sox. The first 1,000 fans to arrive at City Stadium will receive an Aramis Ramirez bobblehead.

Ramirez played for Lynchburg in 1997 and set the single-season Hillcats home run record with 29. He played in parts of six seasons with the Pirates before being traded to the Cubs during the 2003 season.