SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

'Birds, Intimidators Split Double Dip

Published on May 21, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


Salisbury, Md- Delmarva and Kannapolis split a pair of close games on Wednesday night, a 3-1 win for the Birds in game one and a 3-2 extra-inning triumph for the Intimidators in the nightcap.

While pitching was clearly the story of the day in both contests, the first matchup featured two complete games as both starters went the distance. Delmarva's Zach Britton earned the win with a seven inning effort, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out five and walking two. Kannapolis hurler Nathan Jones was solid as well, but received the loss after surrendering three runs in six innings. Although Kannapolis took an early 1-0 lead in the second, The Shorebirds responded with two in the bottom of the third to take the lead. Three innings later, Joe Nowicki's solo homer provided insurance for Delmarva, as the Birds beat the Intimidators for the first time this season.

The success was short-lived, though, as the quick turnaround to game two saw Kannapolis grab another early edge. Dale Mollenhauer's first professional homer, a two run blast in the second, gave the Intimidators a 2-0 advantage against Shorebirds starter Aubrey Miller. While Kannapolis' righthander Santo Luis held the Birds scoreless through the first four innings, the Delmarva comeback began in the fifth. Ryan Adams and Pedro Silveren used back-to-back base hits, the latter being an RBI double, the get the Shorebirds on the board. Then, trailing 2-1 heading to the home half of the sixth, Joe Mahoney launched his sixth home run of the season to the opposite field, tying the proceedings at two-all. The score remained a draw in the bottom of the last when Delmarva put two men on with one out, but an inning-ending double-play grounder off the bat of Matt Tucker sent the game into the eighth.

In the first extra, the Intimidators threatened immediately as Luis Sierra singled to lead off the frame. After a sacrifice bunt and a fielding error on shortstop Jason White, the Intimidators had runners on first and second with just one out. The next batter, Sergio Morales, grounded a tailor-made double play ball to White. After an easy flip to second, Ryan Adams' relay throw to first was off target. Instead of the inning's end, the ball scooted away from Mahoney and the Kannapolis base runner from second base came home to score and give the Intimidators a 3-2 lead. In Delmarva's final chance, a base-running blunder hurt the Birds chances, and Wally Crancer struck out to end the ballgame and the long day at the ballpark.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 21, 2008


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