SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

Delgado Lifts Shorebirds in Extra Innings in Asheville

Published on May 8, 2016 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


ASHEVILLE, NC - As the saying goes, every day is a new day. Saturday night's game featured 23 runs and 34 base hits in a lopsided affair, but Sunday's contest was all about pitching and defense. Thanks to Natanael Delgado's two RBI performance, the Shorebirds pulled out a 3-1 win in 10 innings at historic McCormick Field in Asheville on Sunday afternoon.

Brian Gonzalez took a no-decision, but he was at his best Sunday afternoon. He needed just 74 pitches to get through six innings, scattering one run on five hits. Gonzalez struck out five and walked one. He lowered his ERA on the season to 2.48.

The first four innings featured virtually no offense at all and took 45 minutes to complete. Asheville (12-16) finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth. With two in scoring position and nobody out, Gonzalez struck out Jonathan Piron and Max George, but couldn't escape the jam unscathed. Carlos Herrera beat out a soft infield single behind the bag at second to bring home Sam Hilliard and the Tourists the 1-0 lead.

But the Shorebirds (17-12) wasted no time in answering the Asheville run. Cedric Mullins led off the sixth with a walk and went to second base on a wild pitch. Ryan Mountcastle grounded out to shortstop to move Mullins to third, and Natanael Delgado brought Mullins home on his ground out to short. Delgado finished the game 1-for-2 with 2 RBI's after entering in the fourth inning when D.J. Stewart was ejected from the contest arguing balls and strikes.

Delmarva had a chance to break through in the eighth, but Alex Murphy stranded runners at second and third with a ground out to end the inning.

The 'Birds finally pushed ahead in the tenth inning. After Drew Turbin led off the inning with a strikeout, Mullins doubled to left-center field. Ryan Mountcastle followed with a single and the 'Birds were in business. Asheville brought Juan Pena out of the bullpen, but he couldn't keep Delgado at bay. He belted a 1-1 fastball to the center field fence, scoring Mullins. One pitch later, Yermin Mercedes floated a single to left field and brought Mountcastle home to put the Shorebirds ahead 3-1.

Ryan Meisinger (3-1) picked up his third win of the season. He dominated Asheville in three shutout innings by striking out five. Christian Turnipseed earned his sixth save of the season by slamming the door in the Tourists' tenth.

Mountcastle extended his hitting streak to eight games with a 2-for-5 afternoon, including his fifth double of the season. Mercedes finished the affair 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Alex Murphy went 2-for-5 in his 7th multi-hit game of the year.

With two games left in the series, the Shorebirds give the baseball to Cristian Alvarado tomorrow night. Alvarado struck out a career-high 10 in his last outing at Lexington in the first game of the road trip. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm. Brendan Gulick will have the broadcast live on Fox Sports AM 960 and online at theshorebrids.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from May 8, 2016


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