G-Rod, 'Birds Spit out 'Hoppers in Matinee
May 9, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release
SALISBURY, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds used early offense and a solid start from Grayson Rodriguez to stymie the Greensboro Grasshoppers 5-2 on Thursday morning at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
Rodriguez (4-0) struck out eight while scattering one run and three hits across 5.2 innings to maintain his perfect record for the Shorebirds (25-5). The Orioles' No. 5 prospect has now collected at least eight strikeouts in four of his five starts, all wins.
Osvaldo Bido (5-1) was dealt his first loss of the year for the Grasshoppers (21-11), allowing five runs on seven hits over five innings while striking out five. Bido had allowed only five runs all season coming into the game.
Zach Matson earned his first save of the year in the victory. Matson threw two scoreless innings, allowing just a walk and striking out three batters.
Cadyn Grenier got the scoring started as he put the Shorebirds up 1-0 with a solo homer to left-center to lead off the second inning.
Delmarva created some breathing room with a three-run third. Three straight singles to open the inning from Ryne Ogren, Nick Horvath, and Robbie Thorburn loaded the bases. After an Adam Hall strikeout, Doran Turchin made it 2-0 Delmarva as he grounded out to third to bring home a run and put runners at second and third. Grenier then plated both runs with a single to right to cap off the inning and put the Shorebirds ahead 4-0.
The Shroebirds struck for one more in the fifth. Thorburn singled with one out and then stole second base. Turchin then singled to score Thorburn, pushing the Delmarva lead to 5-0.
Greensboro got in the run column in the sixth. Lolo Sanchez began the frame with a double and advanced to third on a Kyle Mottice bunt single. Mason Martin brought Sanchez home with an RBI groundout, making it 5-1. Working against reliever Tyler Joyner with Mottice at third and two out in the inning, Michael Gretler drove one to the wall in left center, but Thorburn raced back to rob Grettler of a hit and save a run from scoring to end the threat.
The Grasshoppers added another run in the seventh. Fabricio Macias began the inning with a double and scampered to third on a groundout to shortstop. Brett Kinneman brought Macias home with a sacrifice fly to left, bringing Greensboro to within three at 5-2.
Matson relieved Joyner with a man on first and nobody out in the eighth, finishing the job and sending the 4,401 Perdue Stadium faithful home happy.
Turchin and Grenier powered the Shorebirds' offense, combining to drive in all five runs from the three- and four-slots, respectively. Grenier finished 3-for-4 with a solo homer and three RBIs. Turchin went 1-for-4 and drove in two runs. Thorburn had a multi-hit game for Delmarva, his sixth in his last eight, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Lolo Sanchez collected two of the five hits for the Grasshoppers, including a double, and scored one of their two runs.
The win sets up the Shorebirds' first rubber game of the season in Friday night's finale against the Grasshoppers. Gray Fenter (2-1, 2.05) takes the ball for Delmarva against Greensboro's Alex Manasa (3-0, 3.21). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening 6:00 p.m. Friday is Star Wars Night at Perdue Stadium, and the first 1,000 fans will receive a Sherman BB-8 Wobble presented by Pohanka of Salisbury. The Shorebrids will also be wearing special BB-8 jerseys which will be auctioned off during the game with proceeds benefiting the Richard A. Henson Cancer Institute. It is also a Froggy 99.9 Big Beer Friday. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 6:50 p.m. with Will DeBoer and Sam Jellinek on the call.
• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...
South Atlantic League Stories from May 9, 2019
- Lexington Falls in Game Two to Kannapolis - Lexington Legends
- Suns Pitching Dazzles in 5-1 Win - Hagerstown Suns
- Lockridge Leads RiverDogs Past Fireflies - Charleston RiverDogs
- Henriquez K's 8 in Four Innings as 'Dads Win - Hickory Crawdads
- Vientos and Uriarte Smash Homers, Columbia Falls in Middle Game - Columbia Fireflies
- Riley Pint a Bright Spot in Tourists Loss to Crawdads - Asheville Tourists
- Fireflies Game Notes: May 9 at Charleston (Game 32) - Columbia Fireflies
- Drive Slug Their Way Past Braves 6-4 - Rome Emperors
- Drive Top Rome, 6-4, on Thursday - Greenville Drive
- G-Rod, 'Birds Spit out 'Hoppers in Matinee - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Game Notes (May 9) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Lexington Craft Beer Week Kicks off May 10th at Whitaker Bank Ballpark - Lexington Legends
- Hagerstown Suns Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Bill on Baseball: Hoppers Take Aim on Shorebirds - Greensboro Grasshoppers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
