Cheng pitches host Hillcats past Red Sox

John Smoltz skipped Salem in his injury rehabilitation assignment Tuesday, which deprived Lynchburg baseball fans of seeing one of the major league’s all-time great pitchers.

But even Smoltz would have found it difficult to match Hillcats starting hurler Chi-Hung Cheng and Lynchburg’s relief corps.

Cheng threw five scoreless innings and relievers Dustin Molleken and R.J. Rodriguez completed the shutout in a 4-0 win over the Red Sox at City Stadium.

“I threw good pitches and kept the ball down,” said Cheng, a Taiwan native.

Keeping the ball down in the strike zone is a big key to Cheng’s success, Hillcats manager P.J. Forbes said.

His pitches have more movement when they’re down, which helps him induce more ground ball outs.

Lynchburg (28-16), which holds a two-game lead over Potomac in the Carolina League’s Northern Division, recorded its third shutout of the season. Cheng, who improved to 4-2 and dropped his earned run average down to 3.98, was the starting pitcher for two of them.

“Every start he just goes after guys and competes all the time,” Molleken said.

While Cheng, who allowed four hits and walked one, was hitting his spots to stymie Salem’s batters, Smoltz was throwing for the Portland Sea Dogs, the Red Sox Class AA affiliate. He allowed a run and struck out two in three and one-third innings.

Salem appears to be the only Red Sox minor league stop Smoltz, an eight-time all-star and 1996 National League Cy Young winner, won’t make.

He started his rehab assignment last Thursday with three scoreless innings for Low-A Greenville and, if all goes as planned, is expected to make one more minor league appearance next week for the Pawtucket Red Sox before joining Boston’s major league team.

Salem (22-23) could have used Smoltz’s help against the Hillcats. Right fielder Myles Durham struck the first blow against Red Sox starter Seth Garrison with a solo home run to left field in the second inning.

Lynchburg tacked on two more runs in the third on a two-run single by Pedro Alvarez, who made his fourth straight appearance at designated hitter (sore arm).

“We got good pitching and good defense and we executed when we had opportunities (at the plate). When everyone does their part, you see how well things work,” Forbes said.

Cheng showed his appreciation for all his teammates after the game by hi-fiving them as they approached the clubhouse door. Many reciprocated by commending him on a job well done.

“I have great teammates and coaches, and I just go out and do my job,” Cheng said.

Cheng handed the ball over in the sixth to Molleken, who struck out two in three scoreless innings. Rodriguez finished up the masterpiece with a scoreless ninth for his ninth save.

“We’ve been so successful because we go after guys,” Molleken said. “The starters and relievers.”

NOTE: Ray Chang went 0-for-3 to end a 15-game hitting streak. During his streak, Chang, who played a dazzling third base Tuesday, was 25-for-56 (.446) with 17 RBIs and 13 runs scored.