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SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

'Birds Drop Opener in Charleston

August 3, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - The Delmarva Shorebirds had too few answers against the Charleston RiverDogs, falling 6-3 on Saturday night at Joe Riley Park.

Josh Maciejewski (1-1) earned his first win for the RiverDogs (19-23, 56-56), avenging last week's loss at Delmarva with six innings of two-run, five hit ball. Ruben Garcia (1-1) took the loss in relief for the Shorebirds (27-14, 75-35), giving up two runs on three hits in three innings. Carlos Espinal nailed down his fourth save with a scoreless ninth.

Charleston capitalized on Grayson Rodriguez's wildness in the first inning. The Shorebirds' starter walked three in a row with one out to load the bases, and Mickey Gapser singled into right to chase one home and make it 1-0. The RiverDogs ran themselves out of potentially more runs, though, as Josh Stowers got caught in a rundown between second and third on Gasper's single. Rodriguez then fanned Eric Wagaman for the inning's third out.

Canaan Smith drew another walk to lead off the bottom of the third, and Stowers took his place at first on a fielder's choice. Stowers soon stole second base, and with two outs Wagaman dropped a soft liner into center for a single, scoring Stowers to put the RiverDogs up 2-0.

Rodriguez made his exit after the third inning, allowing two runs on three hits with five walks and four strikeouts and taking a no-decision.

Delmarva had an answer in each of their next two turns at bat. With one out in the fourth, Jean Carlos Encarnacion mashed an opposite-field triple to right, and Doran Turchin brought him home with a sac fly to center. In the fifth, Seamus Curran led off with a single and eventually scored on a Zach Watson double play, tying the game at 2-2.

The RiverDogs didn't waste any time getting back in front. Oswald Peraza led off to open the bottom of the fifth, and Smith followed with a single. After a successful double steal moved them up to second and third, Gasper lifted a one-out single to left over the drawn-in Delmarva infield, scoring both Peraza and Smith to make it 4-2 Charleston.

Ryne Ogren led off the top of the seventh with a base hit, then after a strikeout and flyout Nick Horvath came up and bashed a double off the wall in right, chasing home Ogren to make it a one-run game at 4-3.

Gasper and the RiverDogs would not be denied, though. After Stowers drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the seventh, Gasper deposited a two-run homer to right, his eighth of the year, to give the game its final 6-3 margin.

The Shorebirds' last best gasp came in the top of the eighth. Johnny Rizer and Encarnacion managed back-to-back one-out singles, then after a strikeout Ogren came up and engaged Charleston's Ron Marinaccio in a battle at the plate. After fouling off eight two-strike pitches, Marinaccio finally struck Ogren out on the 12th pitch of the showdown, retiring the side and taking the last wind out of Delmarva's sails.

Encarnacion finished 3-for-4 with a triple and run to lead the Shorebirds, while Curran also had three hits and scored a run. Horvath went 1-for-3 with a double, walk, and RBI. Watson saw his nine-game hitting streak come to an end, going 0-for-5. Rizer extended his own hitting streak to seven games with his eighth-inning single.

Gasper had a career night at the plate for the RiverDogs, going 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs, the most rib-eyes for anyone against the Shorebirds this season. Peraza and Stowers each scored twice, while Stowers picked up two stolen bases.

The Shorebirds look to get back in the series against the RiverDogs on Sunday evening. Ryan Wilson (5-4, 3.20) makes the start for Delmarva against Charleston's Harold Cortijo (4-2, 2.70). First pitch is set for 5:05 p.m., and pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 4:50 with Will DeBoer on the call.

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 3, 2019


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