Hillcats Drop Saturday Night Showdown at Delmarva

Salisbury, Maryland – Alexfri Planez crushed a three-run home run, but the Delmarva Shorebirds (41-28) offensive onslaught proved too much for the Lynchburg Hillcats (35-35) to handle.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Delmarva scored first on Hillcats starter Juan Zapata in the bottom of the second inning, Shorebirds’ center fielder Mason Janvrin was hit with a pitch immediately, moving to second when Lamar Sparks singled to left. Both runners came home thanks to TT Bowens and his RBI base-hit that lifted Delmarva to a 2-0 lead.
• The Shorebirds added another score in the bottom of the third when Janvrin raced home again thanks to a single up the middle from Darrell Hernaiz, putting Delmarva up 3-0.
• Lynchburg finally got the offense going in a big way in the top of the fourth inning with Shorebirds starter Griffin McLarty on the mound. Jonathan Rodriguez laced a single to left and Miguel Jerez drew a free pass, setting up Alexfri Planez for his ninth home run of the year. The three-run bomb over the left field wall tied the game at 3-3.
• Lynchburg made a pitching change in the bottom of the fifth inning, sending out Alec Wisely in relief. Lamar Sparks doubled to left field to start the frame, with a hit by a pitch, and a walk loading the bases. When Andrew Martinez drew a free pass, Sparks scored and gave Delmarva their lead back.
• In the sixth and the seventh Delmarva tacked on three more runs, highlighted by solo-shots from Wilkin Grullon and Jean Carmona.
• Planez’s home run produced the only runs of the night for the Hillcats and Lynchburg lost game six 7-3 at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Julian Escobedo went 2-4 on the day.
• Lynchburg has already won the series and leads 4-2 heading into the finale.

WHO'S NEXT

The Hillcats close out the seven game set at Delmarva Sunday at 5:05pm.