'Birds Cap Homestand With Walkoff

Salisbury, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds won in walk-off fashion to earn a 2-1 victory and the series win over the Lakewood BlueClaws. Delmarva (19-18) closed out a successful homestand on a game-winning RBI double by Austin Wynns in the ninth inning. The Shorebirds jumped over .500 with six wins in the seven-game homestand.

Pitching has been the key for Delmarva's success at home, and it continued on Tuesday morning. After Hunter Harvey's gem on Monday evening, Shorebirds' starter Steven Brault gave another solid effort. Brault allowed one run on four hits in six innings, though he settled for a no-decision. The left-hander has not surrendered more than two runs in a start since his debut on Opening Day.

Mike Yastrzemski gave the Shorebirds a 1-0 lead with a rare display of power. The Shorebirds' outfielder belted a solo home run to right field in the third inning. It was the third home run for Yastrzemski this year, a team-high. Delmarva has hit just seven home runs as a team.

Lakewood tied the game at one run apiece with a tally in the sixth inning. Willians Astudillo stroked a two-out double, and Dylan Cozens followed with an RBI single to right field.

With the game in a deadlock, Delmarva turned to its bullpen. Jon Keller pitched three scoreless innings without surrendering a hit. The lone baserunner off Keller came on a leadoff walk in the ninth, and Astudillo was later caught trying to steal second base.

Still tied 1-1, the Shorebirds had a chance for a walk-off win to put an exclamation point on a terrific homestand. Josh Hart led off the ninth with a flare single to center. The next batter, Austin Wynns, roped a line drive to the left field corner. Hart sprinted out of the gates, and the relay home was just late as Hart slid in safely for the game-winning run.

Jon Keller took home the win for Delmarva, his first of the season. Julio Reyes suffered the loss for Lakewood to move to 0-2.

The Shorebirds now travel to Kannapolis, North Carolina for a three-game series. Left-hander Mitch Horacek (1-3, 3.69) will start for Delmarva against Intimidators' right-hander Tyler Barnette (1-1, 2.92). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm at CMC-NorthEast Stadium on Wednesday evening.