The Delmarva Shorebirds lost 4-2 to the Hickory Crawdads on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Hickory, North Carolina, suffering their fourth consecutive loss to Hickory and dropping five of six games in the series.
Delmarva entered the finale with a 42-78 overall record and a 19-35 mark in their division. Hickory entered with records of 71-46 overall and 37-16 in their division.
Stiven Martinez Gives Delmarva an Early Lead
Stiven Martinez put the Delmarva Shorebirds on the board with two outs in the third inning, hitting a solo home run for a 1-0 lead. The homer was Martinez’s second of the week and was identified as his 12th in the source material.
Delmarva added another run in the fourth inning after the Hickory Crawdads committed a throwing error. That gave the Shorebirds a 2-0 advantage before Hickory rallied in the fifth.
Marco Argudin’s Home Run Puts Hickory Ahead
Marco Argudin hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning, giving the Hickory Crawdads a 3-2 lead. Hickory extended its advantage to 4-2 in the seventh inning after Francisco Morao balked with a runner at third.
Jesus Lafalaise pitched five innings in relief for Hickory, allowing one run on two hits and striking out six. Lafalaise earned the win, Francisco Morao took the loss in relief, and William Privette recorded the final three outs for the save.
The Shorebirds went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven runners. Delmarva did not score again after Hickory took the lead.
Delmarva Begins Final Homestand Tuesday
The Delmarva Shorebirds will open their final regular-season homestand Tuesday against Fredericksburg. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
The Delmarva Shorebirds built a 2-0 lead but could not hold it after Marco Argudin’s three-run home run shifted the game in Hickory’s favor. Delmarva’s 1-for-8 performance with runners in scoring position also limited its chances to recover.
The Shorebirds will next face Fredericksburg at home after losing five of six games in the series against the Hickory Crawdads.
Source: Original report
