Isaac De Leon’s Three Extra Base Hits Not Enough in ‘Birds 4-3 Loss to Hillcats
LYNCHBURG, VA. – Isaac De Leon had a career day at the plate going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a homer, and two driven in, but the Delmarva Shorebirds still fell 4-3 to the Lynchburg Hillcats on Wednesday night at Bank of the James Stadium. Hector Perez also stood out for
LYNCHBURG, VA. – Isaac De Leon had a career day at the plate going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a homer, and two driven in, but the Delmarva Shorebirds still fell 4-3 to the Lynchburg Hillcats on Wednesday night at Bank of the James Stadium.
Hector Perez also stood out for the Shorebirds (30-61, 9-17), striking out six Hillcats (46-46, 11-15) over just three innings of work.
Lynchburg started the scoring in the first inning. With two away, Junior Sanquintin tripled with two outs and then scored on a Jorge Burgos single to give the Hillcats the lead.
The Shorebirds struck back in the very next half-inning with two outs in the top of the second. Elio Prado singled and then went to second on a passed ball. De Leon’s first double of the day then scored him to tie the game. Erinson Placencia then dropped in a single to score De Leon and put Delmarva ahead 2-1.
In the fourth, Lynchburg got a bit of help retaking the lead. An error began the frame and put a runner at first for Lynchburg. Jake Fox took advantage immediately with an RBI double, tying the game at 2-2. After a popup, Sanquintin doubled in Fox to push Lynchburg ahead 3-2.
The game stayed at the same score line all the way until the eighth. With two away, Dayan Frias unloaded for a solo homer, his third of the season, doubling Lynchburg’s lead to 4-2.
Delmarva made a late charge in the ninth. De Leon smashed a solo homer with one away, his sixth of the year, to cut it back to a one run game. Placencia then walked before Michael Mantecon singled, but the Shorebirds failed to move them any further, stranding the tying and go-ahead runs on to end the game.
Reid Johnston (2-5) picked up the win for the Hillcats, firing five innings of two-run baseball, allowing four hits and striking out eight without issuing a walk.
Conor Grady (4-7) took the hard luck loss for the Shorebirds. Grady struck out a career high eight, while allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks,
Shorebirds continue their six-game road series with the Hillcats on Thursday, July 28 at Bank of the James Stadium. Deivy Cruz (0-0, 1.13) is slated to go for the Shorebirds while Lynchburg hands the ball to Juan Zapata (2-5, 3.31). 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.