The Hillcats lost two of the best bats in the Carolina League on Tuesday when third baseman Jim Negrych and outfielder Jamie Romak were promoted to Double-A Altoona.

In his first start in Lynchburg, Brad Lincoln displayed just about everything Pirates fans have heard about the former No. 4 overall pick.

The theory would seem to make sense. Shunned by the Pirates’ organization, Brad Correll returns to Lynchburg and crushes two home runs and drives in six runs to lead Wilmington to an 11-2 victory Sunday night, thus showing the Pittsburgh brass what a huge mistake it made in releasing him in the middle of 2006.

WOODBRIDGE — Brad Lincoln, the former first-round selection of the Pittsburgh Pirates promoted this week from Hickory, N.C., experienced a rocky debut with the Lynchburg Hillcats on Friday night in a 13-5 loss to the Potomac Nationals.

WOODBRIDGE — The Potomac Nationals were not quite ready to relinquish their hold on the Carolina League Northern Division Thursday at Pfitzner Stadium. With a 6-2 victory over the Lynchburg Hillcats, Potomac remained in first place and extended their division lead to 1 1/2 games.

Brad Lincoln, the Pirates’ first-round pick in 2006 at No. 4 overall, has been promoted to Lynchburg and is scheduled to start for the Hillcats on Friday in Potomac.

Cuffman talks about Pennsylvania sports, being drafted by the Pirates and what he would change about the game of baseball.

The season’s all-star break came and went 2½ weeks ago, and when all was said and done, the only Hillcat to receive a permanent bump to the next level was catcher Steve Lerud.

Four sacrifice flies proved to be the difference Sunday afternoon, with starting pitcher Brian Holliday throwing his third straight quality start, giving Lynchburg a 6-2 win over Wilmington in game two of their four-game series with the Blue Rocks at Frawley Stadium.

The way he pitched in four starts before the first-half break, Hillcats left-hander Daniel Moskos appeared to be turning a corner.

The Hillcats knocked around the hottest pitcher in the league in the first game of a doubleheader Thursday.

The Hillcats and Indians had the opener of their three-game series postponed Wednesday after afternoon rains made the City Stadium field unplayable.

The streaks — yup, both of them — are over.

Hillcats manager Jeff Branson answered before the question was even finished.

With the Pirates’ leading player development personnel on hand this weekend, the Hillcats are bound and determined to show that every batter, no matter where he hits in the lineup, is capable of putting down a bunt when called upon.