‘Birds Bring Their Own Fireworks in Offensive Explosion to Top ‘Cats

LYNCHBURG, VA - Behind the strength of 15 hits and 13 walks, the Delmarva Shorebirds slugged their way by the Lynchburg Hillcats en route to a 9-7 victory on Sunday night at the Bank of the James Stadium.

With the win, the Shorebirds (35-17) take the series by a 5-1 mark and push the Hillcats (26-26) back down to .500.

The Hillcats opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning. With one down, Gabriel Rodriguez slapped his ninth double of the year. One out later, Miguel Jerez homered, his first of the campaign, to score Rodriguez and give Lynchburg a 2-0 lead.

Delmarva answered back immediately in the third, bringing five runs across in the frame. Mason Janvrin singled with one out in the inning and TT Bowens followed with a walk. Ryne Ogren singled to load the bases and Jean Carmona then tied the game at 2-2 with a two-RBI base hit. Cristopher Cespedes walked to load the bases once more and Andrew Martinez tripled to clear them, putting the ‘Birds ahead 5-2.

The Lynchburg bats came to life again in the fourth. Alexfri Planez and Rodriguez provided two straight base hits and advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Jerez continued his strong night with a two-RBI single to cut the Delmarva lead to one, 5-4.

Leading off the fifth, Cespedes smashed his team-best eighth homer of the season giving the Shorebirds a 6-4 lead.

The lead did not stand long, as the Hillcats struck again in the bottom of the fifth with three more crossing home plate. Petey Halpin walked to start the inning and Angel Martinez singled to put runners on first and second. Both runners advanced on a Yainer Diaz groundout and Johnathan Rodriguez scored both with a triple to tie it. Planez struck out swinging in the next at-bat, but the pitch got away from Ogren behind the plate and Rodriguez came around to score, giving Lynchburg their first lead since the second inning, 7-6.

The pitchers took over and the scoring died down until the eighth inning when Delmarva struck. TT Bowens walked with one down in the frame and Ogren followed up with a base hit. After a Carmona strikeout, Cespedes received an intentional walk to load the bases. Martinez was walked in the following at-bat to force home a run and tie the game at seven. Yorkislandy Alvarez then singled right after to snatch the lead back, 8-7.

In the ninth, Hudson Haskin singled with one down. After the second out and a pitching change, Bowens and Ogren both worked walks with Carmona earning a third consecutive free pass to bring an insurance run in and bring the contest to its final of 9-7.

Houston Roth (4-1) earned the win in relief after another dominant showing for Delmarva. Roth tossed 4.2 shutout innings, allowing just one hit and fanning seven Hillcats.

Andrew Misiaszek (2-2) was charged with the loss after allowing three runs in two innings for Lynchburg. Misiaszek allowed three hits and three walks while striking out two.

Zach Peek got the start for the Shorebirds but did not factor into the decision. He worked 4.1 innings and allowed seven runs on eight hits, walking one while striking out five.

Josh Wolf started on the bump for Lynchburg and did not factor into the decision after working 2.1 innings and allowing five runs on seven hits and four walks, striking out two.

The Shorebirds saw more than their fair share of the base paths on Sunday. Delmarva batters recorded 15 hits and received 13 walks in the win, leading to a season-high 15 runners left on base despite the offensive success.

TT Bowens and Andrew Martinez each went 3-for-3 with Martinez collecting a team-high four runs batted in. Jean Carmona finished 3-for-5 with three driven in as well. Every Delmarva starter reached base at least once while eight of nine collected at least one hit with four players picking up multiple knocks.

Jerez spearheaded the Lynchburg effort, going 3-for-4 with a homer and four driven in.

The Shorebirds return home to face off against the Salem Red Sox on Tuesday, July 6 at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. Starters for the Salem series have yet to be announced. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. on MiLB.TV and Fox Sports 960 AM with Sam Jellinek on the call.

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.