Error Costs 'Birds in Rain-Shortened Game
April 24, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release
SALISBURY, MD - A dropped popup with two outs in the top of the sixth cost the Delmarva Shorebirds, who fell to the Kannapolis Intimidators 3-2 in a rain-shortened seven-inning game on Tuesday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
With two out and nobody on in the sixth in a 2-2 tie, Tate Blackman lofted a flyball into center field. T.J. Nichting couldn't locate it through the mist, and the ball dropped in for a double. Michael Hickman came up next and popped one sky high toward third base. Trevor Craport saw it veer to his left and couldn't make the plate, and Blackman raced around to score on the error, putting the Intimidators (13-6) up 3-2.
The Shorebirds (12-7) couldn't muster a baserunner against Kannapolis reliever Zach Lewis in the sixth or seventh innings. Conditions on an already waterlogged night took a turn for the worse before the top of the eighth, and the umpires called for the tarp; the game was called around half an hour later.
John Parke (3-0) benefited from the late gift by earning the win after five innings of two-run, eight-hit, one-walk, three-strikeout ball. Scott Burke (1-1) got stuck with the loss after allowing the unearned run and four hits in three innings of relief. Lewis earned his first save of the year with two perfect innings out of the bullpen.
Kannapolis pieced together a pair of runs in the second and third innings. In the second, Anthony Villa legged out a one-out infield hit, stole second, and scored two batters later on a single by Blackman.
Luis Gonzalez then singled with one out in the third, and Laz Rivera bunted him over to second. After a walk, Craig Dedelow lashed a single up the middle, scoring Gonzalez to make it 2-0 Intimidators.
The Shorebirds got both runs back in the fifth. Mason McCoy lifted a flyball deep to the right field corner that glanced off Tyler Frost's glove for a double. Kirvin Moesquit came up next and cranked his own double into the left field corner, scoring McCoy. Moesquit advanced to third on a wild throw to the plate and then scored on the very next pitch when Lewis threw wild to the plate, drawing Delmarva even at 2-2.
Zach Jarrett knocked his own double to left with one out in the inning, and Nichting walked to put two on. But Craport grounded into a fielder's choice and Ryan Ripken flew out to center, stranding the go-ahead runs aboard and setting up K-Town's late flourish.
Moesquit finished 1-for-4 with a double, run, and RBI, while McCoy had a double and a run. Will Robertson had two hits off childhood friend Parke, finishing 2-for-4. Nichting went 0-for-2 with a walk, seeing hit hitting streak come to an end at 10 games.
Gonzalez, Villa, and Blackman each had a run and two hits for the Intimidators.
Michael Baumann did not factor into the decision for the Shorebirds. He lasted just three innings, including a 38-pitch third, allowing two runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
With a loss, Delmarva finds itself out of first place for the first time this season; the Shorebirds now trail Kannapolis by one game in the Northern Division standings.
The Shorebirds will turn to lefty Cameron Bishop (1-1, 1.89) to get back on track against the Intimidators' Parker Rigler (1-0, 1.26) on Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00. Wednesday is a Silver Sluggers Game presented by Peninsula Home Care. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 6:50 with Will DeBoer on the call.
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