The Delmarva Shorebirds headed out to Lynchburg for their second series of the year. This was a very evenly matched set of six games, with each team taking three.
For the most part, the Shorebirds’ offense was dormant, besides the three games they won. Ironically, two of the three losses came without Darell Hernaiz in the lineup.
Across the board, the pitching for Delmarva was great, as they only allowed 19 runs in these six games. Minus a few outlier outings, this was a stellar pitching performance.
Let’s get right into it. Here is how this series went down for the Shorebirds:
Game 1: Shorebirds 6, Hillcats 3
Ryan Long had the start in game one and lasted just two innings without a run. Dan Hammer received the win in relief with 3.2 innings of one-run ball that was unearned.
The entire Shorebirds lineup recorded hits in this one, besides two players. Darrell Hernaiz led the charge with a 1-for-4 day, including a double. Josue Cruz added to the longball total in this game, while also recording another hit for a 2-for-4 day.
Kelvin LaRoche earned his first save in this Delmarva victory.
Game 2: Shorebirds 3, Hillcats 1
Denyi Reyes pitched a beautiful outing in this game, lasting five inning, allowing just one run and picking up his first win on the year.
Moises Chase, who is a name Oriole fans will want to keep track of, threw four innings of relief, earning the save in the midst. He gave up just one hit and struck out seven.
Hernaiz, again, was an offensive leader, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Get used to him hitting the ball.
Again, the pitching was on point. The staff allowed just four hits in this game, and it’s one run coming early in the contest.
Game 3: Shorebirds 2, Hillcats 6
The first loss of this series really came off one poor inning of relief. Before that, Shane Davis tossed a good outing, where he went four innings with no runs off two hits.
The offense was somewhat dormant, although three players recorded two hits each. Unfortunately, those were all the hits recorded by the Shorebirds in this game.
Daniel Federman let this game get out of hand with his relief appearance that saw five runs cross the plate off seven hits. His 2.2 innings put the game out of reach for Delmarva, who could only muster two runs off a two-RBI double by Mishael Deson.
Game 4: Shorebirds 3, Hillcats 4
The Shorebirds dropped their second straight game, this one a much closer contest.
Raul Rangel started this one and gave up just one hit and one run over three innings. Carson Carter earned the loss in relief, when he gave up the remaining three runs in just 1.2 innings.
The offense fell flat again, hitting safely just four times. However, three runs on four hits is promising. Davis Taveras notched two of these RBIs on one hit, while Hernaiz added the third on another home run.
Game 5: Shorebirds 8, Hillcats 3
The Shorebirds would get back in the win column following an offensive showcase. Delmarva recorded 14 hits, with five players having multi-hit games and two of those five being three-hit games.
I sound like a broken record, but, yet again, Hernaiz led the charge. He went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and yet another home run.
Isaac Bellony also showed some power, adding a home run of his own and two total RBIs in his 3-for-4 day.
Juan De Los Santos earned the win in his start, which lasted five innings with no runs allowed. He now improves to 1-1 on the year.
Game 6: Shorebirds 1, Hillcats 2
With a chance to win this series, the Shorebirds sent Dan Hammer to the mound. He pitched well in his second appearance in this series, lasting three innings and giving up no runs.
The offense, which didn’t do much, was led by Deson and Bellony again. Deson went 2-for-5, while Bellony went 1-for-4 and added the team’s only RBI on a double.
How do you feel about this series for the Delmarva Shorebirds? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook and Twitter! And, make sure to use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content to show your Birdland swag!
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