Hillcats go O-four

By Andy Bitter

Published: June 27, 2008

It took the Hillcats more than 50 games to string together their first three-game winning streak this season. Since then, they’ve done it two more times, including three W’s that sandwiched this week’s all-star break.

It’s the fourth win in a row that is proving to be slightly more elusive.

Lynchburg failed in its bid for a fourth straight victory Friday night, falling to Winston-Salem 6-1 at City Stadium.

Like their first two bids at four straight wins — both of which ended in 11-3 losses — the Hillcats (3-5) never truly threatened, managing just two hits through eight innings and only breaking up the shutout once there were two outs in the ninth.

“We didn’t swing the bats worth a crap,” Hillcats manager Jeff Branson said.

Winston-Salem starter Clevelan Santeliz (1-2) was wild, but nearly unhittable in his five innings. He didn’t allow a run despite a season-high five walks.

When he was in the strike zone, Lynchburg couldn’t do anything with it. Santeliz struck out five and allowed one hit, an Alex Presley double in the fifth that didn’t result in run because Eddie Prasch, who had walked, slipped going around second.

The Hillcats were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position, leaving nine men on base.

“We just got away from our approach today,” Branson said. “It’s like we were trying to pull every pitch.”

Warthogs reliever Matt Zaleski earned his second save, throwing four innings and allowing a run on Presley’s second double of the night in the ninth.

Hillcats starter Brian Holliday (1-8) was saddled with the loss, despite a solid effort in which he allowed one baserunner through the first four innings.

Winston-Salem’s C.J. Retherford went outside to get a first-pitch changeup to lead off the fifth, though, clearing the fence in right center to break a scoreless tie. It was Retherford’s 13th homer this season, putting him in a tie for second place in the Carolina League.

“Tip your cap to the guy, I guess,” Holliday said. “Location-wise, it wasn’t bad. I may have slowed my arm down a little bit. He probably picked it up and he hit it well.”

It was one of only three hits the Warthogs (5-3) had off Holliday, though they did put together a rally in the sixth.

Paulo Orlando bunted for a single with one out. Holliday got Salvador Sanchez to pop out but walked Brandon Allen on a 3-2 count with his final pitch. He left with runners on first and third and two outs, trailing 1-0.

Lynchburg went to Jake Cuffman, who specializes in pitching in inherited-runner situations, despite allowing 36 percent (10 of 28) of them to score entering Friday.

That number quickly went up. After Allen took second on catcher’s indifference, John Shelby laced a single to left. Orlando scored and Allen slid into home just ahead of left fielder Miles Durham’s throw to make it 3-0.

“The guy just happened to get the bat on the ball,” Branson said. “It was a good pitch.”

Winston-Salem got some breathing room in the seventh. C.J. Lang and Adam Ricks both doubled off reliever Blair Johnson in a three-run inning that made it 6-0.

NOTES: After giving up 53 hits in 26 innings from May 21 to June 15, Holliday has surrendered seven hits in his last 11 2/3 innings. … Holliday’s eight losses put him in a tie for most in the league. … Despite walking twice and scoring Lynchburg’s only run, first baseman Kent Sakamoto’s season-best 10-game hitting streak came to an end.