‘Birds Rally From Four Down To Hang On for Series Opening Win in Lynchburg

LYNCHBURG, VA. – The Delmarva Shorebirds rallied from deficits of four runs and one run to secure a 9-7 victory over the Lynchburg Hillcats on Tuesday night at Bank of the James Stadium.

The win snaps a three-game losing streak for the Shorebirds (30-60, 9-16) while Lynchburg (45-46, 10-15) falls a game below .500 for the season.

Lynchburg started the scoring with a bang in the first. Jorge Burgos launched a three-run homer, his fourth of the year, before Dayan Frias knocked in another run with a single to make it 3-0.

Isaiah Greene drove in a run with a fielder’s choice after a walk and single put men at the corners with one away in the second, making it 4-0 Lynchburg.

The ‘Birds hit the comeback trail in the fourth. Roberto Martinez capitalized on back-to-back two out walks by plating both baserunners with a double, cutting the deficit in half to 4-2.

In the fifth, Trendon Craig walked with one away before Reed Trimble singled. Mishael Deson then launched a three-run homer, his first of the season, to vault Delmarva ahead 5-4.

Lynchburg tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Junior Sanquintin doubled then moved to third on a flyout before scoring to tie the game on a wild pitch.

Sanquintin then gave the Hillcats the lead in the very next inning with a bases loaded walk.

Delmarva surged back ahead in the eighth. Isaac De Leon singled to start the inning and after a flyout, Brayan Hernandez was hit by a pitch. Luis Valdez then walked to load the bases. Trendon Craig then singled to center to drive in a run, with the throw to the plate getting airmailed, and allowed two more runs to score with Craig going to third. Craig then scored on a wild pitch to make it 9-7.

Two errors and an infield single pushed a run in for Lynchburg in the ninth, before a hit batter then loaded the bases with nobody out and the ‘Birds lead down to two. Monroy bore down though, inducing three straight outs to close out the game, 9-7.

Yaqui Rivera (1-1) picked up the win for Delmarva out of the bullpen, going three frames while allowing two runs on five hits and a walk, striking out four.

Sammy Vasquez (1-2) suffered the loss for Lynchburg, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks, striking out one.

Monroy earned his first save of the year for Delmarva, going two frames while allowing just an unearned run on a hit, striking out three without issuing a walk.

Shorebirds continue their six-game road series with the Hillcats on Tuesday, July 26 at Bank of the James Stadium. Conor Grady (4-6, 6.05) is slated to go for the Shorebirds while Lynchburg hands the ball to Reid Johnston (1-5, 3.61). First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m with pregame coverage beginning at 6:15 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.