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SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

Shorebirds Game Notes

June 12, 2008 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


Shorebirds, BlueClaws Begin First Half's Final Weekend On Outside Looking In... Delmarva and Lakewood each begin the final weekend with the unlikely dream of earning the first-half Northern Division Title serving as a backdrop for the four game set at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. Just a week after the BlueClaws took three of four from the Shorebirds at FirstEnergy Park, the Birds hope to even the score at home and head into the All-Star Break with momentum. The series begins with a rematch of last Saturday's pitching matchup. Both Zach Britton and Jacob Diekman were hit hard early as the offenses each scored four runs in the first three innings. Lakewood went on to win the game 5-4 on a bases-loaded wild pitch with two outs in the ninth.

Recapping the ‘Birds-‘Claws Series from Jersey... Delmarva scored the final nine runs of the series, all coming in the final four innings on Sunday, to salvage the finale and avoid being swept by Lakewood last weekend at FirstEnergy Park. Delmarva's six-run sixth, highlighted by three homeruns, brought the Birds back from a 6-2 deficit. Adding three more in the eighth, Delmarva hung on for an 11-6 win. While Shorebird starters struggled in the series, the bullpen shined in the four games. The bullpen combined to pitch 18.1 innings, allowing just one earned run on eight hits.

Signs of Life From the Shorebirds on Wednesday... After Lake County swept Delmarva on Tuesday night, the Shorebirds needed to return the favor in order to keep their first-half title hopes alive. With their backs to the wall, the Birds responded with a pair of narrow victories to reinvigorate their chances for the final weekend. In game one, Kieron Pope's two-run homer in the seventh inning and Mick Mattaliano's 13th save helped the Shorebirds hang on for a 7-6 victory in the resumption of Monday night's suspended game. Cliff Flagello tossed three scoreless innings in relief before surrendering a three run homer to Lake County catcher Michael Valadez that got the Captains within a run in the eighth. Delmarva led 5-3 with two outs in the last of the fifth when the skies began to empty a barrage of rain on northern Ohio. While the Shorebirds fell behind 2-0 after two innings, Delmarva rallied off Lake County's formerly unbeaten all-star Ryan Miller to take a 5-2 lead after four innings. Miller, who had been 7-0 on the season before the Shorebirds handed him his first defeat last Tuesday in Salisbury, gave up three runs in the third and another two in the fourth on Victory Castillo's two-run homer, his first of the season. Lake County second-baseman Karexon Sanchez drilled a leadoff home run in the fifth to cut the deficit to 5-3, just as rain was beginning to fall. With two outs and a runner at third base, the tarp was swiftly placed on the field, much to the objection of the Shorebirds who were hoping to finish the fifth inning and make the ballgame official. In game two, the Shorebirds received a great effort from starting pitcher Tony Butler. Butler tossed five shutout innings to earn his third win of the season. From the start he was pitching with the lead, as Joe Mahoney's two-run double in the first propelled the Shorebirds to a 2-0 early edge. Two innings later, Anthony Martinez pounded his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot to put the Birds ahead 3-0. While Lake County scrapped a run off reliever Brett Bordes in the sixth, Bordes earned the save with two innings out of the Delmarva bullpen. With the two wins, the Shorebirds are 2.5 games behind Lake County with four to play. Delmarva hosts Lakewood Thursday through Sunday, while the Captains remain home to play Hagerstown.

Lake County Brooms Birds in Tuesday Doubleheader.... The Shorebirds first-half title hopes took a major dive with Tuesday night's pair of losses in a double header with the Lake County Captains. In game one, the Captains scored all seven of their runs with two outs, and the offensive deluge began in the second inning. With Karexon Sanchez at first base, Cole McCurry walked the eight and nine hitters, Ron Rivas and Matt Willard, to load the bases. Adam White proceeded to drill a bases-clearing double to left-center field that jump-started Lake County to a 3-0 lead. One batter later, Adam Davis pounded a two run homer to left that put the Captains on top 5-0. Although the Shorebirds broke up the shutout with three runs in the sixth, Captains starter Joey Maholic delivered six strong innings to earn the win for Lake County. The Captains jumped out early again in game two, leaping to a 4-0 lead after three innings. Although the Shorebirds scored two in the fourth to cut the deficit in half, Lake County's pitching staff kept the Birds at bay. Trailing 5-2 with two outs in the top of the last, the Shorebirds managed to load the bases with back-to-back walks and a strikeout wild pitch, but Tyler Henson's grounder to first ended Delmarva's chances and ensured Lake County's sweep.

Sambo, Nowicki, and Gleason Selected to SAL All-Star Game.... Manager Ramon Sambo, right-fielder Joe Nowicki, and righthanded-pitcher Sean Gleason were the 2008 Shorebirds chosen to represent Delmarva in the June 17 All-Star Game that will be played in Greensboro, NC.

A Magnificent May.... The Shorebirds recorded a 17-12 record in May by finishing the month strong with four straight wins. Right-fielder Joe Nowicki, who finished the month on a 13-game hitting streak, led the team with a .352 average in May. Second-baseman Ryan Adams batted .330 after hitting just .243 in April. Wally Crancer (.308) and Jason White (.302) were the other Shorebirds to hit over .300 this past month. While Joe Mahoney struggled to the tune of .198, he did lead the team in RBI with 23. The pitching staff was led by starter Sean Gleason, who made an emergency spot start when John Mariotti pulled his groin on May 2. Gleason remained in the rotation throughout the month and proceeded to become the ace. In five starts, he recorded a 2-0 record with a 1.75 ERA. The team won four of his five starts. Gleason was not the only Shorebirds starter to put up great numbers in May, as Luis Noel went 4-1 with a 2.33 ERA and Zach Britton went 4-2 with a 3.16 ERA. Closer Mick Mattaliano also produced a stellar May, compiling a 2-0 record with five saves in five attempts. He did not allow a run in May.

Defensive Struggles... The Shorebirds lead the South Atlantic League in the not-so-prestigious category of errors. In 65 games, the Birds have made 108 errors. Second-baseman Ryan Adams leads the team with 32.

2007 in Review...Delmarva went 68-68 on the year, 34-33 in the first half and 34-35 in the second half... The Shorebirds were 6th in the 16-team South Atlantic League with a 3.91 ERA... They pitched to a 3.65 ERA (1015.2 IP, 412ER) following a 5.16 mark (205.2 IP, 118ER) in April... Delmarva was 2nd in the SAL with 1,074 strikeouts and allowed the 3rd fewest hits (1,126) and home runs (73) in the league... The Shorebirds were 9th in stolen bases (145), 10th in runs scored (662), 12th in average (.259), hits (1,210) and home runs (88), and 13th in walks (433)... Delmarva won a season-high 9 straight games, May 31-June 9, and had a season-high 7-game losing streak, April 25-May 1. Four Shorebirds played in the 2007 SAL All-Star Game, including pitchers Taylor Bergesen and Jeff Moore, right fielder Brandon Tripp, and first basemen Chris Vinyard. Tripp finished the season with a .288 average, 19 homers, and 79 RBI; consequently, he earned the Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the year award as the Orioles' best position prospect.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 12, 2008


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