SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

'Birds Squander Late Lead in Hickory

Published on April 29, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


HICKORY, NC - The Delmarva Shorebirds fell two outs shy of the sweep as the Hickory Crawdads overcame a late 6-1 hole to win 7-6 in walk-off fashion on Sunday afternoon at L.P. Frans Stadium.

With the Shorebirds (16-8) up 6-1 in the bottom of the seventh, the Crawdads (8-14) began their comeback with an Eric Jenkins RBI groundout to make it 6-2. In the eighth, Melvin Novoa and Sam Huff drew back-to-back walks to lead off and moved up on a deep flyout. Tyler Ratliff singled in both to get the home side within 6-4, but Branden Becker turned a nifty double play at second to get Delmarva out of the inning with the lead in tact.

Yonny Hernandez worked out a seven-pitch walk with one down in the bottom of the ninth, and Jenkins drew another free pass on a full count to put the tying runs on base. Miguel Aparicio came up next and hit a sharp grounder back to the mound. Alex Katz got it in the webbing of his glove but dropped it, then recovered and threw to second for the would-be force, but Mason McCoy dropped the ball and everyone was safe. Rather than a game-ending double play, the Shorebirds had the bases full of Crawdads and one out.

Reed Hayes came in to try for the final two outs, and Novoa greeted him with a first-pitch single to left, scoring Hernandez and Jenkins to tie the game. Huff came up next with the winning run at second. Hayes got a check swing on a ball in the dirt from Huff for strike two, but Aparicio broke for third and slid in safely on the wild pitch. Novoa got hung up between first and second on the play, and the Shorebird infield had one eye on him with another on Aparicio at third. Aparicio broke for the plate when McCoy finally slapped the tag on Novoa, and the throw sailed over the plate, allowing Aparicio to slide in for the wild walk-off win, stopping Delmarva's winning streak at four games.

Grant Zawadzki (1-1) scooped up the win after a scoreless ninth despite walking two and throwing 26 pitches. Katz (2-1) took the loss as all three ninth-inning runs were charged to him.

Delmarva opened the scoring in the third inning. McCoy and Jarrett got on with back-to-back two-out singles, then Hickory starter Reid Anderson balked them each up a base. Seamus Curran took advantage of the spot, gliding a soft liner into right for a two-run single and making it 2-0.

Hickory got one run back in the bottom of the third on a two-out Novoa double. Novoa advanced to third on the throw home, and Huff followed with a single up the middle that ordinarily would have scored the runner. The line drive struck the ankle of base umpire Ben Fernandez, though, forcing Novoa to hold at third base on the dead ball. Yohel Pozo followed by fouling out to right, and the Shorebirds caught a break.

Jean Carrillo led off the top of the seventh with a 10-pitch battle against the Crawdads' Dario Beltre, and Carrillo won out with a solo home run to left, his second of the year. Becker and T.J. Nichting followed with singles, and McCoy then laced his second triple of the game to right, scoring both runners to make it 5-1. Beltre was lifted in favor of Josh Advocate, and Will Robertson greeted him two batters later with a double to left, bringing home McCoy to put Delmarva up 6-1 and set up the Crawdads' heroics.

McCoy got on base all five time he came to the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with two triples, two walks, two runs, and two RBIs. Carrillo and Becker each had a pair of Delmarva's 13 hits, and all nine Shorebirds tallied at least one base knock.

Novoa paced the Crawdads at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Aparicio scored twice, including the quick-thinking game-winning run.

Delmarva starter DL Hall lasted 2.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits while walking one and striking out a season-high six. Gray Fenter relieved Hall in the third and pitched a season-long 3.2 innings, giving up a run on three hits.The Crawdads got a Quality Start from Anderson, who allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out six.

Delmarva finishes the month of April eight games over .500 and in sole possession of first place in the SAL Northern Division, despite allowing the Crawdads their first win in the season series. The Shorebirds nearly pulled off their first sweep in Hickory since July 20-23, 2008.

After a scheduled off day, the Shorebirds will open a seven-game homestand with the first of three against reigning SAL champs Greenville. Michael Baumann (2-0, 2.37) is on the bump for Delmarva against the Drive's Denyi Reyes (2-1, 3.32). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00. Tuesday is another Bark in the Park game presented by Johnson-McKee Animal Hospital. 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 29, 2018


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