G-Rod, 'Birds Blank 'Claws
June 25, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release
SALISBURY, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds mowed down hitters all night long as they blanked the Lakewood BlueClaws 5-0 on Tuesday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
Grayson Rodriguez (7-1) started the shutout bid for the Shorebirds (5-1, 53-22) tossing five scoreless frames while allowing just one hit and striking out six. Rodriguez allowed a leadoff single to begin the game and then proceeded to retire the next 14 in a row. Thanks to a double play on the next pitch after the leadoff single, Rodriguez faced the minimum through his five innings.
Jhordany Mezquita (2-5) suffered the loss for the BlueClaws (2-4, 31-45) after going five innings and allowing two runs on four hits while walking one and striking out seven.
The Shorebirds cracked open the scoring in the second. Robert Neustrom laced a double to center to begin the inning and Jean Carlos Encarnacion followed with a two-run homer down the line in left to put Delmarva up 2-0.
A three-run sixth helped the Shorebirds put the game to bed. Cadyn Grenier singled to open the frame. After a groundout, Neustrom socked a two-run homer to right, doubling the Delmarva lead. With two outs in the inning, Nick Horvath kick started another rally with a single to left. Cody Roberts followed with a walk to put two on. A passed ball on a dropped third strike allowed Horvath to race home and score all the way from second and make it a 5-0 Delmarva.
Rodriguez handed the baton to Matt De La Rosa in the sixth for Delmarva. De La Rosa fired two shutout frames, striking out one to earn his team-high sixth hold. In his first Shorebirds appearance, Felix Bautista threw two scoreless innings to complete the three-hit shutout.
Neustrom lead the charge offensively for Delmarva, finishing a triple shy of the cycle by going 3-for-4 with his fourth homer of the year, a double, two runs, and two RBIs. Encarnacion's two-run homer was his seventh of the season, while Nick Horvath went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Jonathan Guzman had two of the three hits for the BlueClaws, going 2-for-3.
The shutout performance was the third in five games for the Delmarva pitching staff and their 11th clean sheet of the season.
The Shorebirds go for the sweep against the BlueClaws on Wednesday night. Ofelky Peralta (4-2, 3.61) toes the rubber for Delmarva while Lakewood counters with Francisco Morales (1-3, 4.11). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00. Wednesday night at Perdue Stadium is a Silver Sluggers Game presented by Peninsula Home Care, and the first 1,000 fans through the gates can play Baseball Bingo. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 6:50 with Will DeBoer and Sam Jellinek on the call.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 25, 2019
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- RiverDogs Hang on to Snap Four-Game Skid - Charleston RiverDogs
- Drive Sweep Tuesday Doubleheader against Kannapolis - Greenville Drive
- Legends Extinguish Fireflies in 9-2 Victory - Lexington Legends
- G-Rod, 'Birds Blank 'Claws - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Crawdads Club Three Homers as They Defeat Suns - Hickory Crawdads
- Rodriguez, Shorebirds Blank BlueClaws 5-0 - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Fireflies Game Notes: June 25 at Lexington (Game 72) - Columbia Fireflies
- RiverDogs Return Home for Three Fireworks Shows, Honor the Negro Leagues in Upcoming Homestand - Charleston RiverDogs
- Hagerstown Suns Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Game Notes (June 25) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Six-Run Rally in Ninth Lifts Columbia over Lexington - Columbia Fireflies
- Biggers Delivers Walk-Off Hit against Suns - Hickory Crawdads
- Suns Misfire on Loaded Opportunity in Opener - Hagerstown Suns
- Braves Bats Stay Hot in 12-3 Romp over Charleston - Rome Emperors
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