
'Birds Comeback Bid Falls Short in Loss to FredNats
July 29, 2021 - Carolina League (CarL)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release
FREDERICKSBURG, VA - The Delmarva Shorebirds started on the comeback trail too little, too late, as they fell 6-4 to the Fredericksburg Nationals on Thursday night at FredNats Ballpark.
The Shorebirds (42-32) trailed early, but made a furious comeback attempt that was extinguished by the Nationals (25-50) in the end.
The FredNats got on the board first in the second inning. After Junior Martina singled to open the frame, Jake Randa launched a two-run shot out to right, his second of the season, to put the Nationals up 2-0. Kevin Strohschein followed Randa with a homer of his own, a solo shot, his eighth of the campaign, to go back-to-back and make it 3-0 Nationals.
It stayed at 3-0 until the bottom of the seventh as both pitching staffs settled in. Three straight singles began the frame with the third being an RBI knock from Geraldi Diaz. With runners then at first and third a wild pitch pushed another run across. After a strikeout, Geraldi Diaz swiped third base and then scored an out later on a Viandel Pena single to make it 6-0.
Costly FredNats errors allowed Delmarva back into the game in the eighth. With two away, Jean Carmona singled and Ryne Ogren walked. Cristopher Cespedes then ripped a double to right that plated both runners after an error in rightfield allowed the ball to roll to the wall and also allowed Cespedes to go third. A throwing error on an ensuing groundball then brought Cespedes home to make it a 6-3 game.
The Shorebirds brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth after Darell Hernaiz doubled home a run, but the FredNats held on for the 6-4 win.
Jackson Rutledge (1-1) earned the win for the FredNats with five shutout innings. He allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out seven.
Noah Denoyer (5-3) suffered the loss for the Shorebirds. He exited after 3.1 innings due to injury while allowing three runs on three hits, striking out five.
With his RBI double in the ninth, Hernaiz extended his hitting streak to six games. Cespedes finished 2-for-4 with an RBI double while Yorkislandy Alverez also chipped In two hits.
Randa had a stellar day at the plate for the FredNats, finishing 4-for-4 with a two-run homer and two runs scored.
The FredNats cashed in when it mattered, going 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position compared to 1-for-11 for the Shorebirds.
The Shorebirds will try to right the ship against the FredNats on Friday, July 30. Houston Roth (5-1, 3.58) starts for Delmarva against Karlo Seijas (3-8, 6.21) for Fredericksburg. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 from FredNats Ballpark with pregame coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. on Fox Sports 960 AM as well as streaming online on the IHeart app with Sam Jellinek. MiLB.TV coverage will be provided by the FredNats.
Carolina League Stories from July 29, 2021
- Driscoll Draws Bases Loaded Walk to Give RiverDogs Third Consecutive Walk-Off Win - Charleston RiverDogs
- Three 3-Run Innings Lift Birds to Win - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Big Ninth Inning Sinks Ballers in 11-4 Loss to Salem on Thursday - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Offensive Flurry Early Not Enough in 9-4 Loss - Augusta GreenJackets
- Down East Sweeps Doubleheader with Fayetteville - Down East Wood Ducks
- Rutledge and Randa Pace FredNats in 6-4 Win - Fredericksburg Nationals
- 'Birds Comeback Bid Falls Short in Loss to FredNats - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Third Time Is Not the Charm in Charleston - Columbia Fireflies
- Kids Run the Bases Is Back at Segra Park - Columbia Fireflies
- Down East Wood Ducks Game Notes - 0 - Down East Wood Ducks
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes at Charleston - Columbia Fireflies
- Two Comebacks Not Enough for FredNats in 13-8 Loss - Fredericksburg Nationals
- 'Birds Bust out in Extras to Topple FredNats - Delmarva Shorebirds
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Delmarva Shorebirds Stories
- Delmarva Outlasts Salem in 11-Inning Thriller
- Shorebirds Fall to the Nationals in the Series Finale
- Delmarva Clinches Series Victory with Second Shutout of Fredericksburg
- Shorebirds Walk-off the Fred Nats in Ten Innings
- Shorebirds Unable to Overcome Big Offensive Night by the Nationals

