SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

'Birds Overwhelm Suns Late to Win Series

Published on May 31, 2017 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


HAGERSTOWN, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds scored in each of their last five innings on the way to a thrilling 10-6 series-clinching win over the Hagerstown Suns on Wednesday night at Municipal Stadium.

Down 4-1 in the top of the fifth, the Shorebirds (21-30) got a run back as Ryan McKenna hit a sac fly to right to score Frank Crinella. The Suns (30-21) quickly responded in the bottom of the fifth as Aldrem Corredor doubled and scored on a Jake Noll single, making it 5-2.

The winds shifted in Delmarva's favor in the top of the sixth inning. Chris Clare led off with a walk, and Preston Palmeiro belted a two-run home run over the tall wall in left center. Palmeiro's second home run of the series and fifth of the year got the Shorebirds within one at 5-4.

Crinella led off the top of the seventh with a sharp single to center, and Blake Perkins let the ball get under his glove and all the way to the wall, putting Crinella at third after the two-base error. Alejandro Juvier tied the game on the very next pitch, slashing a double to right center to plate Crinella. Juvier moved up to third on a wild pitch with McKenna at the plate. With the infield drawn in, McKenna hit a sharp grounder to the left side for an infield single, scoring Juvier to give the Shorebirds a 6-5 lead.

Cole Billingsley rolled a double to to the right field corner to lead off the eighth and advanced to third on a groundout two batters later. Crinella came up with two outs and hit a sharp grounder to short. Angelo La Bruna made a diving stop and rifled the ball over to first, but Crinella beat it by a step for an RBI infield single to put the 'Birds up 7-5.

Delmarva busted it open in the top of the ninth inning. Jake Ring cracked a line drive to deep right for a solo homer, his ninth of the season and league-leading 29th extra-base hit. Clare followed with a single, bring up Palmeiro, who unleashed on the next pitch and slugged it into the right center bullpen, his second round-tripper of the game, to make it 10-5.

Matt Reistetter led off the ninth with a home run and La Bruna followed with a single, bringing Jake Ring in from the bullpen. Bray worked around a walk to strike out three in the inning, fanning Noll to end the game and clinch the series.

Francisco Jimenez (3-0) earned the win in relief for the Shorebirds, going three-plus innings and giving up one run on three hits, walking two and striking out two. Sam Held (1-3) blew the save and took the loss for the Suns, surrendering four runs on five hits in one-plus.

The Shorebirds scored first, bringing a run across in the top of the second. Gerrion Grim reached on a two-base error and Daniel Fajardo hit a bloop single to shallow right, putting Grim at third. Crinella then grounded into a force out, scoring the run.

Hagerstown tied it in the bottom of the second on a Nick Banks triple and Anderson Franco sac fly. The Suns then scored in each of their next three innings. In the third, Daniel Johnson laid down a sac bunt with two on and one out, but pitcher Jhon Peluffo's throw sailed out of Palmeiro's reach, allowing La Bruna to score to make it 2-1.

La Bruna hit a bases-loaded sac fly in the fourth inning to add a run, then on a double steal attempt, Daniel Fajardo's throw to third soared into left field. Telmito Agustin scored to put Hagerstown up 4-1 and set up the Shorebirds' wild ride to the finish.

Palmeiro finished 3-for-5 with a double, two home runs, and four RBIs in his the first multi-homer game of his career. Four of his six big flies this season have come at Municipal Stadium. It was the fourth multi-home run game of the year for Delmarva but the first such game the Shorebirds won.

Crinella went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs, while Clare went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs. The Shorebirds pounded out a season-high 15 hits and all nine starters had at least one.

La Bruna brought the spark for the Suns at the bottom of the order, going 2-for-2 with a run, walk, sac fy, and RBI. Agustin went 2-for-4 with a double and a run in his second game with Hagerstown.

Neither starter factored into the decision. The Shorebirds' Jhon Peluffo allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits in five innings in his second start of the year. The Suns' A.J. Bogucki also made his second start of the season, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits in five innings.

Delmarva finished the seven-game road trip 4-3 and took two of three from the division-leading Suns. It was the Shorebirds' first series win since April 24-26 when they won two of three against Lakewood.

The Shorebirds now return to Arthur W. Perdue Stadium to begin a four-game series against the Hickory Crawdads on Thursday night. Alex Wells (3-2, 2.01) makes the start for the Shorebirds; the Crawdads have yet to name a starter. First pitch is 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00. Thursday is another Maryland Pride Day at Perdue Stadium, as well as another Kiss 95.9 Thirsty Thursday, featuring $2 Miller Lite, Coors Light, and Pepsi products.Pregame coverage of the resumption on Fox Sports AM 960 and the MiLB First Pitch app begins at 6:50 p.m. with Will DeBoer on the call.

Check out the Delmarva Shorebirds Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 31, 2017


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