SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

Homers Ignite Offense as 'Birds Steal Opener

Published on June 6, 2017 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


CHARLESTON, WV - The Delmarva Shorebirds clubbed three home runs in the sixth and seventh innings, including a go-ahead shot by Chris Clare, and held off a late West Virginia Power charge on the way to a 7-5 win on Tuesday night at Appalachian Power Park.

Down 4-3 in the top of the seventh, Daniel Fajardo legged out an infield single to get the Shorebirds (24-32) going. Alejandro Juvier bunted him up to second base, and Cole Billingsley slashed a double down the right field line to bring Fajardo home and knot up the game. Fresh off his All-Star selection earlier in the day, Clare connected on a hanging 3-2 curveball and cracked a towering fly to left that finally came down over the wall. It was Clare's second home run of the season and his first since May 8, and it gave the Shorebirds a 6-4 lead.

Two batters later, Collin Woody stroked a powerful line drive to dead center that hit off the left side of the batter's eye for his own home run, a solo shot to put some more distance between the Shorebirds and the Power (26-28).

West Virginia made their move in the bottom of the eighth as Hunter Owen and Arden Pabst hit line drives straight past pitcher Kory Groves and into center for clean singles. Jake Bray came in from the bullpen to try for a five-out save, one that would not come without controversy. Kevin Mahala hit a flyball to shallow right center that Alejandro Juvier appeared to drop from second, but the base umpire ruled an infield fly, making it second and third with two outs instead of the bases loaded and one out. Power manager Wyatt Toregas was ejected for arguing the suspect call. Bray then settled in and got Ty Moore to ground out to put out the fire.

Alexis Bastardo led off the ninth with a double and scored on a pair of groundouts. Down to his final strike, Carlos Munoz drew a two-out walk to bring the tying run to bat in the form of Hunter Owen. On the 10th pitch of the at-bat, Bray went offspeed to Owen inside and got a swing and a miss, bringing the came to a dramatic end.

Travis Seabrooke (3-4) earned the win in relief, allowing two runs on one hit in three innings. He walked four and struck out two. Blake Cederlind (2-1) took the loss after imploding for seven runs on seven hits, including all three home runs, in 1.2 innings. Bray gave up a run but got the five outs he needed for his sixth save of the year.

The Power got to Delmarva starter Jhon Peluffo in the third inning. Mahala worked a leadoff walk, then after a pair of strikeouts Clark Eagan drew his own free pass. Albert Baur came up and fouled off six two-strike pitches in an epic duel. On Peluffo's 12th pitch, Baur turned and laced a double to the right field corner, scoring both runners to make it 2-0.

Preston Palmeiro started the party in the top of the sixth with a one-out double to right, and Collin Woody followed with an infield single to put two on. After a force play, Gerrion Grim pounded a line drive over the wall in right for an opposite-field home run. Grim's blast was his ninth of the year and put the Shorebirds up 3-2.

West Virginia didn't take long to respond. With two on and two out in the bottom of the sixth, Trae Arbet hammered a fly ball to the corner in right for a two-run double, making it 4-3 and setting up Delmarva's four-run seventh.

Woody led the way for the Shorebirds, going 2-for-4 with the solo shot and two runs. Billingsley went 2-for-5 with a double, run, and RBI.

Baur drove in three runs for the Power, going 1-for-4 with a double. Bastardo finished 2-for-4 with a double and run.

Peluffo took a no-decision after allowing two runs on two hits in three innings. His three walks were part of a season-high nine free passes issued by Delmarva pitching. West Virginia starter James Marvel went five scoreless, giving up two hits in his own no-decision.

The Shorebirds look to clinch the series on the left arm of All-Star Alex Wells (4-2, 1.74) on Wednesday night against the Power's Oddy Nunez (1-4, 3.99). First pitch is 7:05, and pregame coverage of the resumption on Fox Sports AM 960 and the MiLB First Pitch app begins at 6:50 p.m. with Will DeBoer on the call.

Check out the Delmarva Shorebirds Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 6, 2017


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