‘Birds Swept in Twin Bill by ‘Cats

SALISBURY, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds were swept in a doubleheader against the Lynchburg Hillcats, falling 7-4 and 4-2, on Wednesday Night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

The losses run the Shorebirds (39-28) losing streak to a season high four games while the Hillcats (34-33) have now taken the first three games of the series.

Game One

The Hillcats got on the board straight away in the first inning of game one. Christian Cairo walked with one away and moved to second on a wild pitch before Jhonkensy Noel pounded a two-run homer, his seventh of the year, to put Lynchburg up 2-0.

Lynchburg loaded the bases with nobody out in the second after a walk, single, and another walk. Two outs later, Cairo cashed in on the situation with a two-run single, doubling the Hillcats lead to 4-0.

Noel went yard to kick off the third, his eighth of the year, and Julian Escobedo followed him up with another homer, his first, to make it 6-0 Lynchburg.

Delmarva answered back in the bottom of the inning, as Craig Lewis ripped a two-run shot, his first of the season with Delmarva, to cut it to a 6-2 game.

After a two-out error allowed Cristopher Cespedes to reach in the fourth, Ryne Ogren doubled him in, making it 6-3 Lynchburg.

Jean Carmona smashed a solo homer in the sixth, his third of the year, to bring Delmarva to within two, at 6-4.
The Hillcats plated an insurance run in the top of the seventh, on a Miguel Jerez sacrifice fly to help ice the game at 7-4.

Brauny Munoz (1-1) collected the win for Lynchburg after a solid start. Munoz lasted 5.2 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks, striking out two.

Shane Davis (4-4) suffered the defeat for Delmarva. Davis went 3.2 innings in his start, allowing six runs on five hits and three walks, striking out four.

Cade Smith picked up his second save of the year for Lynchburg, firing 1.1 scoreless innings, conceding just one hit.
Noel powered the Lynchburg offense with a two-homer game, driving in three.

Lamar Sparks continued his hot hitting as he went 3-for-4 with a double for the Shorebirds.

Game Two

Lynchburg got on the board first again in game two. In the second, Escobedo reached on a single with one away and then advanced to second on a balk. Escobedo then broke for third before the pitch was thrown home, but pitcher Adam Stauffer’s throw was wild, allowing Escobedo to swipe third and score the first run of the game.

The Hillcats doubled their lead in the fourth. Yainer Diaz walked with one away and then Johnathan Rodriguez reached on an error, allowing Diaz to go to third. Escobedo was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. After a strikeout, a passed ball allowed Diaz to race home from third and put Lynchburg ahead 2-0.

In the fifth, Darell Hernaiz walked to start the frame for Delmarva. After a strikeout, Carmona and TT Bowens both walked to load the bases. Cristopher Cespedes then came through in the clutch, smacking a single to center to score two and tie the game, but Cespedes was thrown out trying to advance to second on the play.

It was the Hillcats who had the last laugh in the contest. Angel Martinez singled to begin the sixth and two outs two outs later, Escobedo ripped a homer to right, putting Lynchburg up 4-2, the score they held on to win by.

Zach Hart (4-1) picked up the win in relief for Lynchburg. Hart allowed two runs on one hit, walking three while striking out four.

Kyle Martin (2-2) swallowed the loss for Delmarva. Martin fired 2.2 frames, giving up two runs on two hits, striking out four.

Adam Stauffer started for Delmarva but did not factor in the decision. Stauffer went 3.1 frames, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks, striking out one.

Liam Jenkins started the game for Lynchburg and also did not factor in the final line. Jenkins pitched 3.2 scoreless frames, allowing four hits and three walks, striking out four.

Cespedes finished 2-for-3 with two driven in for Delmarva, including the only hit the Shorebirds had in nine at-bats with a runner in scoring position.

Escobedo finished 2-for-2 with a homer and two runs scored as well as a stolen base.

The Shorebirds look to break their snide against the Hillcats when they face Lynchburg again on Thursday, July 22. Noah Denoyer (5-2, 2.85) gets the ball for Delmarva while Lynchburg goes with Jordan Jones (1-6, 5.23). 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.