Nationals ruin Lincoln’s Hillcats’ debut

From staff reports

Published: July 18, 2008

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.

Lincoln suffered his first loss at the High-A level, allowing five earned runs on seven hits through four innings. He struck out one, walked one, and allowed back-to-back home runs to Aaron Seuss and Trevor Lawhorn in a three-run fourth inning that lifted Potomac to a 5-2 lead.

Jim Negrych hit a solo home run in the fifth inning for the Hillcats. It was his third home run in seven games on the road trip. Also for Lynchburg, Kent Sakamoto batted 2 for 3 with a double, a walk, and a run scored.

With the loss, the second-place Hillcats drop to 14-14 in the Carolina League’s second half.