‘Birds Succumb to ‘Cats in Walk-Off Fashion

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Delmarva Shorebirds were walked-off on for the first time this year as the Lynchburg Hillcats used a ninth inning rally to defeat the Shorebirds 4-3 on Friday night at the Bank of James Stadium

For the first time in the series, the Hillcats (2-5) managed to get on the board ahead of the Shorebirds (3-4).

Will Bartlett reached on an error to start the third and then swiped second. Joe Donovan then drove him in with a double to put Lynchburg ahead 1-0.

In the third, Noelberth Romero reached on an error and Ryan Higgins was hit by a pitch with one away. After a flyout, Davis Tavárez sliced a double down the rightfield line to plate both runners and vault Delmarva ahead 2-1.

Brayan Hernández extended the lead in the seventh with a solo homer, his first of the year for Delmarva.

Lynchburg cut it back to a one-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh on a Will Bartlett RBI double, but had a runner thrown out at the plate on the play by Higgins from leftfield to keep Delmarva ahead 3-2.

After nearly tying the game in the seventh, Lynchburg didn’t miss their mark in the ninth as they managed to win the game. Skeiling Rodriguez walked to start the frame and was then pinch-run for by Isaiah Greene. A sacrifice bunt advanced him to second and after a flyout Jake Fox walked. After a pitching change, Jake Fox looped a single into right to tie the game before Jorge Burgos won it for Lynchburg with a bouncing ball up the middle, scoring Fox, for the 4-3 win.

Hugo Villalobos (1-0) earned the win for Lynchburg with a scoreless ninth, walking one and striking out one.

Carson Carter (0-1) was tagged with the loss for Delmarva after allowing two runs on one hit and two walks, striking out one.

With the series now tied at two, the Shorebirds will try to grab back the series edge against the Hillcats on Saturday, April 16, at Bank of the James Stadium. RHP Juan De Los Santos (0-1, 2.45) is currently slated to pitch for Delmarva against Trenton Denholm (0-0, 1.80) for Lynchburg. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. with pregame coverage of the game beginning at 6:15 p.m. with Sam Jellinek on the call on theshorebirds.com.

ABOUT THE DELMARVA SHOREBIRDS

The Delmarva Shorebirds were founded in 1996 and have been the Class-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles since 1997. The Shorebirds have won two South Atlantic League championships in 1997 and 2000 and were named the MiLB.com Minor League Team of the Year in 2019 after going 90-48 in the regular season. Based in Salisbury, Maryland, the Shorebirds are proud to represent the entire Delmarva Peninsula and have hosted two SAL All-Star Games in 1999 and 2011. The Shorebirds are owned by 7th Inning Stretch, LP, based in Stockton, California headed by Chairman Tom Volpe and President Pat Filippone.