The Delmarva Shorebirds trailed by two runs heading into the eighth inning during Sunday’s contest against the Lakewood BlueClaws.

Sitting just two games ahead of Hickory in the South Atlantic League Northern Division standings, the Shorebirds needed a win to increase the gap between first and second place. Prior to Sunday, Delmarva held an 82-41 overall record — one game shy of matching the franchise’s single-season win total.

And a three-run eighth inning, highlighted by a triple from outfielder Shayne Fontana, gave the Shorebirds the lead and enough to clinch their 83rd victory.

It is the first time since the inaugural season in 1996 that Delmarva has hit the mark, and with more than a dozen games remaining, the Shorebirds are expected to again make history with their best season to date.

"I’m so proud of the kids in the clubhouse that created this for this organization,” manager Kyle Moore said in July. “Being only my second club I’ve managed, I almost feel like I’m a little bit spoiled. I know how unusual this is … so I’m extremely grateful.

“You try to be humble, you try to not have too much pride, but I tell you what, when you see those kids in the clubhouse grow like they’ve grown, you’ve got to be super proud of them. I’m proud of the staff and really proud of the kids.”

Delmarva clinched its first postseason appearance since 2005 earlier in the year with a first-half title. After ccumulating a 48-21 overall record, the Shorebirds will play the winner of the second half once the playoffs kick off in early September.

Holding the top spot in the standings as of Aug. 19, should Delmarva win the second half, the second place squad would act as a wild card team and face the Shorebirds in the Northern Division Championship. The winner of the three-game series advances to the South Atlantic League Championship.

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The Baltimore Orioles’ Low-A affiliate has been led by 2017 second-round pick Adam Hall at the plate, who currently holds a .307 batting average with 129 hits, 44 RBIs and 70 runs. Others like JC Encarnacion, Seamus Curran and Jaylen Ferguson have also attributed to the success.

On the bump, top picks Grayson Rodriguez and Drew Rom have been two of the team’s most consistent pitchers.

Rodriguez, a first-round pick in 2018, has a 2.59 ERA and 117 strikeouts, and pitched in the MLB Futures Game earlier this season. Rom, a fourth-rounder from the same year, has tossed 112 strikeouts through 86 innings.

The Shorebirds are back in action Tuesday at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, where they will play the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

Former Shorebird makes Major League debut

It's been quite the road for Orioles' 2013 first-round draft pick Hunter Harvey, but one that finally landed him on the mound at Camden Yards.

Harvey made his Major League debut on Saturday against the Boston Red Sox. In one scoreless inning, he tallied two strikeouts and allowed a walk. The 24-year-old also threw a 100 mph pitch, according to the Orioles' scoreboard.

He played the 2014 season with the Shorebirds, in which he pitched 87 innings and finished with a 3.18 ERA and 106 strikeouts. He also saw action with Delmarva in three games during 2017.

Harvey has suffered through multiple injuries throughout his time in the pros, which included Tommy John surgery in 2016.

Harvey is part of an Orioles' squad that currently holds a 39-85 overall record, the second worst in the MLB behind the Detroit Tigers.

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