Frederick shortstop Manny Machado committed three errors and Lynchburg scored four unearned runs to take a 5-2 win Thursday in the first game of a four-game series.
It looked like it was going to be along night for the Hillcats when Frederick’s leadoff batter Steve Bumbry smacked a home run over the right field fence off Lynchburg starter Chris Masters.
A pair of Keys’ miscues in the bottom of the first gave the Hillcats a lead they would not relinquish. Machado’s first error of the game allowed Phil Gosselin to reach and first and Andrelton Simmons to move to second. The two moved to third and second on a wild pitch by Frederick’s Ryohei Tanaka. Simmons scored on a ground-out by Joey Terdoslavich and Joe Leonard drove in Gosselin with a single, putting the Hillcats up 2-1.
The Keys tied the game in the top of the third when Machado and Kipp Schutz hit back-to-back doubles with two outs.
The Hillcats took the lead in the bottom of the third thanks to another error and wild pitch.
Todd Cunningham led off the inning with a double and Simmons bunted him over to third. Tanaka threw his second wild pitch of the game, allowing Cunningham to score. Gosselin followed with a single and, after an out, stole second. Joe Leonard hit a grounder to short that Machado failed to field and the ball rolled into left field, allowing Gosselin to score.
In the fifth, Simmons reached first on Machado’s third error. Again, Gosselin smacked a single to left field, moving Simmons to third. Gosselin made a play for second and the throw from centerfielder Miguel Abreu bounced away from the base. Simmons saw this and came home to close out the scoring.
Masters (8-5) had a good night on the mound. After giving up another run in the top of the third, he allowed just four more singles in the game. He worked 6 2/3 innings and stuck out seven.
Tanaka (8-5) was hit with the loss despite giving up just one earned run.
It was Hillcats (23-30) third straight win. They remained five games behind Potomac in the race for a playoff spot after the Nationals beat Winston-Salem, 4-3. Frederick fell to 33-20.
The four-game series continues tonight at City Stadium. Lefty Matt Crim (1-8) will take the mound for the Hillcats, while the Keys will counter with southpaw Rick Zagone (3-1). First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. and the gates will open at 6 p.m.
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