LYNCHBURG, Va. — The Hill City Howlers rallied late to defeat the Delmarva Shorebirds 6-4 on July 22, 2026, in a Minor League Baseball game played in Lynchburg, Virginia. The loss dropped the Shorebirds to a 9-16 league record and an overall 32-59, while the Howlers improved to 9-16 in league play and 40-51 overall.
Delmarva Takes Early Lead
The Delmarva Shorebirds scored first after two innings when Félix Amparo hit a sacrifice fly that scored Jordan Sanchez, giving Delmarva a 1-0 advantage. The Hill City Howlers tied the game in the third inning when an error on a stolen-base attempt involving Dauri Fernandez allowed the tying run to score. Shortly after, Riley Nelson delivered a two-out RBI double that put the Howlers ahead 2-1.
Shorebirds Retake Lead in Eighth
Delmarva regained the lead in the eighth inning. Stiven Martinez hit a two-run single with the bases loaded to put the Shorebirds up 3-2. Miguel Rodriguez followed with an RBI single, extending the lead to 4-2.
Hill City Storms Back with Late Rally
Hill City answered with a bases-clearing double by Dauri Fernandez, who brought home three runs to retake the lead at 5-4. Cannon Peebles added an RBI single to extend the Howlers’ advantage to 6-4 entering the final inning.
Delmarva threatened in the ninth inning with the tying runs on base but was unable to score. Reliever Connor Whitaker earned the win for Hill City, while Zac Lampton took the loss for Delmarva.
Doubleheader Scheduled for July 23
The teams will continue their series with a doubleheader on July 23, starting at 5:00 p.m., with the second game scheduled 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Delmarva Shorebirds showed resilience by reclaiming the lead late in the game, fueled by key hits from Stiven Martinez and Miguel Rodriguez. However, the Hill City Howlers capitalized on critical opportunities, especially through Dauri Fernandez’s pivotal bases-clearing double, to secure the comeback victory. Delmarva’s inability to convert late scoring chances proved costly. The upcoming doubleheader offers the Shorebirds a crucial opportunity to rebound and gain momentum as the season progresses.
Source: Original report
