SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

'Birds Engine Stalls against Lakewood

Published on April 20, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


SALISBURY, MD - The offense shut down for the Delmarva Shorebirds after the first inning in a 5-2 loss to the Lakewood BlueClaws on Friday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

Spencer Howard (1-1) overcame a rocky start to earn the win for the BlueClaws (8-7), allowing two runs on five hits over five innings. He walked none and struck out nine. Matthias Dietz (2-1) couldn't keep his momentum going from last week's gem and was shelled for four runs on three hits in 3.1 innings, striking out three and issuing a career-high seven walks. Randy Alcantara earned his first save for Lakewood with 3.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

The BlueClaws notched a run in the first inning as Kevin Markham singled, stole second, and came home on a Quincy Nieporte double. The Shorebirds (11-4) answered in their half of the first inning. Zach Jarrett lifted a solo home run to left, his fifth of the season. T.J. Nichting followed with a single, and Seamus Curran doubled him over to third. Will Robertson then hoisted a sac fly to right, scoring Robertson to make it 2-1.

After working around five walks in the second and third innings, the wheels came off for Dietz in the fourth. Nick Maton walked on four pitches to lead off and promptly stole second. Josh Stephen's groundout sent Maton to third and brought the Delmarva infield in. Dalton Guthrie hit a grounder to second and Maton on contact, but Kirvin Moesquit's throw home sailed to the wrong side of the plate, allowing Maton to slide in with the tying run.

Markham then drew another four-pitch walk, and Jhailyn Ortiz served a single to bring in Guthrie and chase Dietz from the game. Nieporte greeted reliever Ryan Wilson with a sac fly to center, plating Markham to make it 4-2 BlueClaws.

For the second straight night Delmarva's bats went cold after the first. The Shorebirds' best chance to tie came in the bottom of the sixth against reliever Zach Warren. Will Robertson shattered his bat but landed a two-out single into center. Ben Breazeale and Ryan Ripken drew back-to-back walks, forcing Alcantara into the game. Mason McCoy came up with the bases loaded but grounded out to third to end the inning, and the Shorebirds were quiet the rest of the night.

Lakewood added another run on a Markham RBI single in the eighth.

Markham led the way at the plate for the BlueClaws, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, two runs, and three stolen bases. Nieporte drove in two runs on the double and sac fly.

Branden Becker had two hits on the night for Delmarva.

The loss deals Delmarva its first losing streak of the season at two games. The Shorebirds are 1-4 against Lakewood this season and 10-0 against the rest of their opponents.

The Shorebirds will try to get back in the series on Saturday night. Brenan Hanifee (1-1, 3.00) gets the nod for Delmarva against Lakewood's Damon Jones (1-1, 2.79). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 4:00 for batting practice. Saturday is Scout Night presented by Dr. Vickers at Seaside Smiles, as well as the first Q105 Fireworks show of the season. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 6:50 with Will DeBoer on the call.

Check out the Delmarva Shorebirds Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 20, 2018


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