‘Birds Ring In the 4th of July With Walk-Off Win Over Salem

SALISBURY, MD – In a thrilling contest befitting Independence Day, the Delmarva Shorebirds rallied for a 4-3 walk-off win in 10 innings over the Salem Red Sox on Monday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

The win snapped a seven-game losing streak for the Shorebirds (23-52, 2-8) and was their second walk-off win this season over the Red Sox (40-36, 5-5).

The scoring started in the second inning as Isaac De León blasted a solo homer for the Shorebirds to start the frame, his fifth homer of the season.

Salem took the lead on the rare two-run sacrifice fly. With runners at second and third, Darel Belen hit a deep drive to right-center that Stiven Acevedo flagged down for an out, but both runners tagged up and came into score, giving Salem a 2-1 lead.

With one out in the seventh, Anthony Servideo ripped a homer off the leftfield foul pole, his first career homer, to tie the game at 2-2. Stiven Acevedo then singled and stole second before Luis Valdez doubled him home to vault Delmarva ahead 3-2.

Salem rallied in the ninth to tie the game. Yorberto Mejicano ripped an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3, putting men at first and third as well with nobody out. Dylan Heid held firm though, striking out three straight batters to keep the game tied at 3-3.

After the Shorebirds went down scoreless in the ninth, the game moved to extras. Again, Heid dealt with runners in scoring position, striking out Brainer Bonaci to strand men at first and second, giving the ‘Birds a chance to win it in the bottom of the tenth.

With pinch-runner Roberto Martinez starting the frame at second, Luis Valdez grounded out to second, moving Martinez to third. Heston Kjerstad was then intentionally walked to bring up Noelberth Romero. Romero hit a chopper to third that was fielded by Bonaci and thrown to the plate to get Martinez, but the ball was dropped at home, Martinez scored, the ‘Birds emerged victorious 4-3.

Dylan Heid (1-2) collected his first career win in relief for the Shorebirds. Heid went three innings, allowing one run on two hits and three walks, striking out seven.

Luis Guerrero (1-2) suffered the loss for Salem, allowing an unearned run in the 10th on a walk.

Kjerstad finished the game 0-for-4 with a walk, bringing his 14-game hitting streak to a close.

Following an off-day Tuesday, the Shorebirds continue their six-game series with the Salem Red Sox on Wednesday, July 6 at Perdue Stadium. Conor Grady (3-5, 6.51) is slated to start for the Shorebirds while Salem tabs Reidis Sena (0-0, 1.98). First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. on theshorebirds.com 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.