Elio Prado's Big Night Helps Shorebirds Edge Hillcats
Delmarva Holds Off Lynchburg to Earn Series Victory Elio Prado's Big Night Helps Shorebirds Edge Hillcats SALISBURY, MD: The Delmarva Shorebirds (23-19) fended off the Lynchburg Hillcats (21-23) in a back-and-forth affair on Saturday night as they won by a score of 7-6. Delmarva scored the first run of the
Delmarva Holds Off Lynchburg to Earn Series Victory
*Elio Prado's Big Night Helps Shorebirds Edge Hillcats *
*SALISBURY, MD: *The Delmarva Shorebirds (23-19) fended off the Lynchburg Hillcats (21-23) in a back-and-forth affair on Saturday night as they won by a score of 7-6.
Delmarva scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first as Douglas Hodo pushed a single into right field to score Elio Prado from third, giving the Shorebirds a 1-0 lead.
The Hillcats quickly jumped ahead in the second on a two-out, two-run homer by Zac Fascia to make it 2-1 Lynchburg.
The Shorebirds responded in the bottom of the third as they delivered back-to-back run-scoring hits by Stiven Acevedo who doubled home Hodo from first base, he then scored off the bat of Adam Crampton who singled into right field to put Delmarva back in front 3-2.
Lynchburg continued the seesaw battle with a run in the fourth on a throwing error by Brayan Hernandez, but the Shorebirds did record an out at home as Trey Nordmann threw at Fascia trying to score, ending the inning with the score tied at three.
The visitors then added another tally in the top of the fifth on an infield single by Angel Genao as Tyresse Turner scored on the play, giving the Hillcats a 4-3 advantage.
In the sixth, the Shorebirds snatched the lead right back thanks to a three-run homer by Elio Prado. His third homer of the season pushed Delmarva ahead 6-4. They added an additional run in the inning on an RBI single by Samuel Basallo, giving the 'Birds their largest lead of the night at 7-4.
But the Hillcats would chip away by scoring two unearned runs in the top of the eighth to pull within one at 7-6. With a chance to even the game, Elio Prado gunned down the tying run at home plate with two outs as he cut down Zac Fascia at home on a perfect throw, preserving a one-run lead for Delmarva entering the final inning.
Yaqui Rivera then closed out the ball game by putting the Hillcats down in order to secure a 7-6 win for the Shorebirds, clinching them a series victory.
Jared Beck (1-2) earned the win in relief for Delmarva with Wardquelin Vasquez (2-2) taking the loss. Yaqui Rivera (4) picked up his team-best fourth save by recording the final four outs.
Elio Prado was the X-Factor for the Shorebirds on Saturday night as he scored twice, doubled, and hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh with his outfield assist in the eighth inning helping save the game Delmarva. Douglas Hodo, Samuel Basallo, Stiven Acevedo, and Adam Crampton all added an RBI in the game in the one-run victory.
The Shorebirds will look to finish off the series with a win on Sunday afternoon as Deivy Cruz takes the mound against Yorman Gomez for the Hillcats. First pitch is at 2:05 p.m.