SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

'Birds Overcome Walks, Missed Chances to Win

Published on June 30, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


LAKEWOOD, NJ - Despite stranding 14 baserunners and walking a season-high nine, the Delmarva Shorebirds still pulled out a convincing 7-2 win over the Lakewood BlueClaws on Friday night at FirstEnergy Park.

Nick Vespi (1-3) earned his first win at the scorekeeper's discretion for the Shorebirds (6-4, 41-36), entering in a high-leverage situation in the seventh and pitching two scoreless innings. He gave up just one bloop single, walked none, and struck out four.

Damon Jones (6-3) took the loss for the BlueClaws (6-3, 47-31), allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits in 2.2 innings.

Delmarva pounced on Jones early. Kirvin Moesquit led off the game with a double, then Mason McCoy hit a grounder to second that turned into an error, moving Moesquit to third. After a flyout and a walk, Branden Becker struck out on a curveball in the dirt, but the ball got all the way to the backstop and Moesquit scored on the wild pitch to make it 1-0 Shorebirds.

Jean Carrillo reached on an error at short to lead off the second, then Jaylen Ferguson hit a single two batters later, and Moesquit singled to load the bases. McCoy hit into a fielder's choice at second to force in a run, then Jarrett crushed a grounder off Jones' foot that kicked to the right side of the infield for a hit, scoring Ferguson to put Delmarva up 3-0.

The Shorebirds rallied for a pair more with two out in the fifth. Ryan Ripken poked a single, and Ferguson lifted a routine flyball into right center that Simon Muzziotti lost in the lights. Ripken came all the way around to score on Ferguson's double, and Moesquit followed with a flyball to deep left that fell for another RBI double to make it 5-0.

Lakewood got back into it in the bottom of the fifth. Jake Scheiner walked to lead off, then after a flyout Jhailyn Oritz belted a two-run homer to the picnic grass in left, getting the BlueClaws within 5-2.

Delmarva answered the BlueClaw blast with one of its own in the sixth. Jarrett led off with a single, then after a flyout, Branden Becker cracked a towering two-run shot to right, his third of the season and third in his last 11 games, reinforcing the Shorebird lead at 5-2.

The BlueClaws had another potential rally going in the seventh as Muzziotti and Scheiner led off with back-to-back walks, prompting the Shorebirds to summon Vespi from the bullpen. The left-hander was untouchable, striking out Nick Maton and Ortiz and inducing a weak popup from Rodolfo Duran to end the inning. His eighth was just as dominant, spoiled by only a Daniel Brito dying quail single to left. Lakewood never seriously threatened again.

Moesquit finished 4-for-5 with two doubles, a run, and an RBI to lead the Shorebirds, while Ferguson went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs, and an RBI.

Ortiz paced the BlueClaw attack, going 2-for-4 with the two-run homer. Scheiner finished with a rare four-walk game; his only at-bat produced a double play grounder in the ninth.

Delmarva starter DL Hall came one inning shy of qualifying for his first professional win. He pitched four scoreless innings, allowing three hits, four walks, and striking out three over 75 pitches. Reed Hayes handled the fifth, sixth, and began the seventh for the Shorebirds, while Max Knutson tossed a scoreless ninth.

The Shorebirds pulled out their sixth win in the past eight games despite hitting just 4-for-17 with men in scoring position and stranding a season-high 14 men on base, including leaving the bases loaded three times.

The Shorebirds face a quick turnaround and projected 100-degree heat for their Sunday matinee against the BlueClaws. Jhon Peluffo (1-3, 9.00) will start the scorcher for Delmarva against Lakewood's Andrew Brown (2-1, 2.57). First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m., and pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 12:50 with Will DeBoer on the call.

Check out the Delmarva Shorebirds Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 30, 2018


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