SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

'Birds Blank 'Hoppers 8-0, Win Series 3-1

Published on May 19, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


Salisbury, Md.- Less than 24 hours after being held scoreless in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader, the Shorebirds responded mightily, blanking Greensboro 8-0 in Monday's series finale. Cole McCurry, a week after his worst start of the season in Kannapolis, submitted arguably the best pitching performance that Delmarva has seen all year. McCurry struck out ten Grasshoppers in seven scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits and no walks. In addition, the Shorebirds jumped out to a nice early lead with three home runs in the first three innings.

The first inning was unique in that all six outs were recorded by way of the K, however Delmarva led two-zip after the first frame thanks to Joe Mahoney's towering two-out two-run homer. Both McCurry and Greensboro starter Stuart Alexander were making hitters swing and miss quite a bit early in the game, but Alexander also was torched by the long ball. With one out in the second, Kieron Pope launched his third home run that narrowly cleared the left-center field wall over the outstretched glove of center fielder Justin Jacobs. An inning later, after Matt Angle reached on an error by Greensboro second-baseman Ryan Curry, Joe Nowicki pounded a deep line drive to right field for his fourth homer of the season. It was also Nowicki's second bomb in as many days following his three-ran dinger in the sixth inning of game one of Sunday's twin-bill.

With a 5-0 lead after three innings, McCurry had a cushion which he protected with ease. On the day, the young southpaw from Asheville, NC retired 21 of 24 batters he faced, yielding just two singles and a hit-by-pitch. He lowered his ERA from 6.95 to 5.75 and earned his first victory of the season. Reliever Cliff Flagello also held the Grasshopper nine at bay during the final two innings, the fifth straight appearance for Flagello in which he did not allow an earned run.

It was the first time this year that Delmarva shut out their opponent. Greensboro was blanked for the fourth time. After losing four straight, the Shorebirds return home by taking three of four from the Grasshoppers. These two teams will renew acquaintances in Greensboro for a four-game set beginning this Saturday.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 19, 2008


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