'Hoppers Hold off Shorebirds, 8-5
May 16, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The Delmarva Shorebirds got off to a strong start on Saturday, but Greensboro perservered for an 8-5 victory at NewBridge Bank Park. With the series evened at two games apiece, Delmarva (18-17) will go for a series win in the rubber match in Sunday's finale.
Delmarva built a lead early, scoring moments into the game. Jay Gonzalez bounced a ball towards third base that deflected off Brian Schales' glove into the outfield. With aggressive baserunning, Gonzalez hustled for a double. After a sacrifice bunt, Gonzalez used his speed again to score on a comebacker to the mound. In the third inning, Riley Palmer chopped an RBI single into right field to score Conor Bierfeldt for a 2-0 lead.
Greensboro steadily chipped away at Shorebirds' starter Sebastian Vader. In the third, Mason Davis put down a squeeze bunt with John Norwood on third base. Vader threw home, but Norwood slid around the tag from catcher Jonah Heim. In the fourth, Greensboro tied the game with a friendly break. K.J. Woods doubled down the left field line on a pop-up that fell at the feet of Jomar Reyes and Conor Bierfeldt after miscommunication. Austen Smith ripped an RBI single to knot the game at 2-2.
With the game tied, the Grasshoppers got a breakthrough frame in the sixth inning. Woods slammed the first pitch of the inning over the right field fence for a 3-2 lead. Greensboro scored three more runs off Vader on a two-run single by Rodrigo Vigil and a sacrifice fly by Norwood.
Down 6-2, Delmarva mounted a rally in the seventh but ultimately fell short. Jonah Heim rocketed a two-run home run just inside the left field foul pole, his first as a Shorebird. Later in the frame, Jay Gonzalez scored on a single by Steve Wilkerson after the ball slipped past left fielder Zach Sullivan. Delmarva left Wilkerson stranded in scoring position, representing the tying run.
The Grasshoppers scored two insurances in the eighth inning to lock up the win. Norwood added an RBI single, and another run came across on a fielding error. Kyle Fischer retired all six batters he faced to sew up the save. Scott Squier took the win for Greensboro while Vader suffered his second straight loss for Delmarva.
The series comes down to the Sunday finale, having split the first four games. Left-hander Bennett Parry (2-2, 2.27) will start the rubber match for Delmarva against another southpaw Ben Holmes (0-1, 4.26). First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, N.C.
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