SALEM — Lynchburg came out on top of its three-game series with the Salem Avalanche, 2-1, thanks to Sunday afternoon’s 8-3 victory.
Hillcats’ Jake Cuffman came on in relief with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth and retired Travis Sweet on strikes to record his first save of the season and secure the win.
Lynchburg pounded a trio of Salem pitchers for 15 hits. Catcher Kris Watts was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and left fielder Eddie Prasch was 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. The Hillcats put the game out of reach with a four-run fourth inning, taking a 5-0 lead. They added a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh.
Starter Michael Crotta posted the win, his fifth of the season. Crotta pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out four in his longest start of the season.
Cuffman in relief faced just one batter and recorded the game-ending strikeout. The series win was the first series victory for the ’Cats since they took two of three from Winston-Salem on May 5-7, a stretch of eight series in a row without a win.
Lynchburg takes to the road again and will face Southern Division leader Myrtle Beach today for the first game of a three-game series. First pitch is 7:05 p.m. Daniel Moskos gets the start for Lynchburg.. The lefthander carries in a record of 4-3, and a 4.66 ERA.
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