Hill City dominates Salem, 16-2
LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) — The Hill City Howlers stomped the Salem RidgeYaks 16-2 on Tuesday evening at Bank of the James Stadium, scoring 12 in the first four innings. Jose Pirela finished a homer shy of the cycle, while also picking up five RBIs.
Riley Nelson had a quiet day at the plate but set a season high with five walks in one game. The game spiraled quickly on the RidgeYaks as the Howlers pieced together two-straight four run frames to open the night. Jose Pirela began the scoring with a three-run triple in the first inning.
Yeiferth Castillo followed with an RBI single. In the second, Riley Nelson drew a bases loaded walk to put the first run on the board in the frame. Pirela blooped a single into left for another before Castillo walked in a third.
The inning was capped off with a Tyler Howards sacrifice fly, putting the Howlers up 8-0. Hill City continued to add on in the third as Robert Arias singled on a line drive to center field, scoring Dauri Fernandez. The fourth saw a return to the crooked numbers for Hill City.
Luis De La Cruz scored two with a double to left before a third touched home on a ground out from Dauri Fernandez. Leaving the fourth, the Howlers led 12-0. The Howlers went quietly in the fifth and the sixth but returned to their ways in the seventh frame.