SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

Balog Delivers Walk off Home Run in Game Two

Published on June 12, 2013 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


Salisbury, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds (28-35) used a walk off eighth inning home run by Nik Balog in game two to split a doubleheader with the West Virginia Power (35-31) on Wednesday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. The Power took game one, 3-1, while the Shorebirds won game two, 3-2.

In game one, the Shorebirds jumped to a 1-0 lead in the second when Wynston Sawyer blasted a home run to left-center field.

The Power tied the game in the third on a two-out RBI single by Dilson Herrera.

Both starting pitchers were effective. Shorebirds starter Juan Guzman tossed six innings and allowed just four hits and one run. Guzman fanned five and walked just one. Power starter Clay Holmes yielded five hits and one run over five innings.

The Power scored two runs in the seventh inning against reliever Mychal Givens to take a 3-1 lead. Givens walked two batters and issued three wild pitches in the inning.

Power reliever Ryan Hafner held the Shorebirds scoreless over the final two innings to earn the win.

In game two, the Shorebirds struck in the first on a double to the wall in right-center by Balog that scored Tucker Nathans from first.

West Virginia tied the game at 1-1 in the third. With two outs, Max Moroff reached on a hit by pitch. He stole second and reached third on a wild pitch. Moroff scored on an error by Anthony Caronia.

Shorebirds starter Lex Rutledge went three innings and struck out a season high seven batters including six in the first two innings.

Sander Beck entered in the fourth inning and maneuvered around a jam in the fourth to toss two scoreless innings.

The Power grabbed the lead in the seventh off reliever Ashur Tolliver. Ashley Ponce doubled down the third base line. Then, Moroff doubled to the right-center field gap to score Ponce.

The Shorebirds tied the game in the seventh on four consecutive singles. With the bases loaded, Lucas Herbst rolled a single past the diving first baseman and into right field to knot the game at 2-2.

In the eighth inning, Balog led off by crushing a 1-2 pitch from Thomas Harlan over the right field wall to end the game.

Matt Hobgood pitched a scoreless eighth inning to earn the win, his fifth of the year.

The Shorebirds travel to Hickory, NC for game one of a four-game series to conclude the first half of the year on Thursday, June 13.

Check out the Delmarva Shorebirds Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 12, 2013


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