Big First, Second Innings Down Hillcats

The Lynchburg Hillcats fell behind early and could not climb back in their 8-3 loss to the Delmarva Shorebirds.

The Hillcats now fall to 2-6, while the Shorebirds improve to 4-4.

Trenton Denholm was the games starter for the Hillcats and he was rocked around early in the first inning. Three batters in, Darrel Hernaiz drilled a home run to deep left center field to open up the scoring for the Shorebirds. Delmarva would tack on two more before Denholm would get out of the inning on a baserunning error from Josué Cruz.

The second inning was more of the same for the Hillcats as Luis Valdez and Ryan Higgins would come around to score in the inning. Denholm would eventually settle down and get out of the rest of the inning and the third inning unscathed. He would be pulled after walking the first runner of the fourth.

Juan Zapata came on in relif and pitched a gem. He would finish with four innings pitched, five hits, one walk, and five strikeouts, keeping the Hillcats in the game for the time being.

Lynchburg would crack the scoreboard with a swinging bunt that Moises Ramirez would throw into right field. This would allow Carson Tucker to score all the way from first on the error.

Then in the eighth, the Shorebirds would score again as Isaac Bellony would crush a two-run home run off the scoreboard to give the Shorebirds and 8-1 lead.

The Hillcats would score one in the eighth and ninth to trim into the deficit but could never close the gap more than five.

Lynchburg and Delmarva will square off one more time on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. Jake Miller (0-1, 13.50) is scheduled to pitch for the Hillcats.