K-Town Slips by 'Birds in Opener
August 8, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release
SALISBURY, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds offense was stuck in neutral all game long as the Kannapolis Intimidators went wire-to-wire in a 2-1 win on Thursday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
Sam Long (6-4) picked up the win for the Intimidators (24-22). Long went 5.1 innings, allowing just an unearned run on two hits and two walks while striking out seven. Nick Vespi (7-6) was saddled with the loss for the Shorebirds (28-17). Vespi lasted two innings, allowing two runs on five hits while not walking a batter and striking out two. Austin Conway collected his eighth save of the season for Kannapolis with a perfect ninth inning.
Kannapolis wasted no time to start the scoring. Ian Dawkins doubled down the left field line to begin the game and moved to third on a single from Lenyn Sosa. After a groundout pushed Sosa to second, a wild pitch allowed Dawkins to score the first run of the game with Sosa advancing to third. With the infield drawn in, Romy Gonzalez blooped an RBI single to right to put the Intimidators up 2-0 in the first.
The Shorebirds finally cracked the scoreboard in the sixth. Jean Carlos Encarnacion walked to start the inning and advanced to second on a groundout. Encarnacion proceeded to swipe third base as Adam Hall walked to put runners at the corners, prompting a Kannapolis pitching change. With Devon Perez in to replace Long, Zach Watson drew the third walk of the frame to load the bases. A passed ball then allowed Encarnacion to score and bring Delmarva to within 2-1.
Delmarva threatened in the eighth as they put the first two with singles from Encarnacion and Johnny Rizer. Perez buckled down, however, striking out three in a row to escape the jam. Perez earned his second hold of the season for his efforts, striking out five in 2.2 innings before handing the ball to Conway for the ninth.
The Shorebirds finished with just four hits in the game, all belonging to Encarnacion and Rizer at the top of the order. Encarnacion went 2-for-3 with a run, walk, and stolen base, while Rizer went 2-for-4.
Dawkins propelled the Intimidators offense, finishing a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, run scored, and walk. Sosa also collected two hits, going 2-for-4 with a run.
After Vespi departed after two innings, the Shorebirds bullpen combined for seven scoreless innings. Gray Fenter and Jhon Peluffo each tossed three shutout frames while Felix Bautista added one scoreless inning.
The Shorebirds and Intimidators go for round two on Friday night. Drew Rom (6-2, 2.35) makes the start for Delmarva against Davis Martin (6-8, 5.38) for Kannapolis. First pitch from is slated for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00. Friday night at Perdue Stadium features a Bank of Delmarva Money Giveaway with the first 1,000 fans through the gates receiving a cash prize ranging from $1 to a grand prize of $500. It's also Froggy 99.9 Big Beer Friday presented by First Class HVAC and Orange Friday with Q105 fireworks after the game. 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.
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