Hillcats Blanked by Shorebirds in Series Finale

Salisbury, Maryland – The Lynchburg Hillcats (14-9) mustered up just three hits while the Delmarva Shorebirds (17-6) erupted to score five runs in just the first inning in an 8-0 Hillcats loss on the road at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Delmarva launched an offensive attack right away against Hillcats starter Josh Wolf (0-2). The Shorebirds loaded the bases with no outs on a hit by a pitch, a single, and a walk. Delmarva’s Jordan Westburg knocked in the first runs with a two RBI single up the middle to quickly make it 2-0 ‘Birds. Westburg moved to second and helped pull off a heist of a home on a successful double steal, executed to score Gunnar Henderson. The Orioles’ first round pick came around himself when Christopher Cespedes sliced a base-hit of his own. Wolf finally got his first out when Jordan Cannon flew out to right, but the Hillcats made a pitching change sending in Trey Benton to get the final two outs of the frame with runners on first and second. The ‘Cats reliever walked back-to-back batters, watching a run come through on a bases-loaded free pass. Benton ended the nightmare half inning by fanning two Shorebirds in a row, but the Hillcats found themselves in a five-run hole heading into the second.

• The Hillcats got a runner in scoring position in the top of the third when Yordys Valdes singled and was pushed to second on an Angel Martinez walk. However both runners were left stranded when Ignatio Feliz forced a Gabriel Rodriguez groundout. The Delmarva starter allowed just four baserunners in four scoreless innings on the mound against the Hillcats.

• Jaime Arias entered the game in the second inning and put together one of the best relief performances for the Hillcats this year. Arias fanned seven of the nine batters he faced over the course of three innings, not allowing a single baserunner in his outing.

• Lynchburg sent out typical game six starter Lenny Torres to complete the game in the bottom of the fifth. The new Hillcats hurler pitched two scoreless frames, but Delmarva tacked on three more runs over the course of the seventh and eighth. Westburg made it a four RBI day with a double to left in the bottom seventh and ultimately the Shorebirds built their lead to eight runs.

• Delmarva’s Adam Stauffer and Brandon Young (1-0) combined to hold the Hillcats to just one hit over the final five innings of play and the Hillcats dropped the finale in Maryland 8-0.

• The Shorebirds won the five game series 4-1, handing the Hillcats their first series loss.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Jaime Arias fanned five straight Delmarva batters, which is tied with Cade Smith for the most consecutive strikeouts

• It’s been sixteen innings since the Hillcats last scored a run.

WHO'S NEXT

The Hillcats have Monday off and then are back in action Tuesday at Bank of the James Stadium against the Salem Red Sox. First pitch is set for 6:30pm.