Late Firefly Push Force 'Birds into Split
August 13, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release
COLUMBIA, SC - The Columbia Fireflies stayed close all night and battled ahead late to down the Delmarva Shorebirds 8-7 on Monday night at Spirit Communications Park.
With the game tied at 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth, Dionis Paulino led off with a grounder to short that Cadyn Grenier misplayed. Gio Alfonzo laid down a perfect sac bunt, and Paulino advanced to third on a wild pitch. After a strikeout, David Miranda hit a sharp groundball over the mound and behind second base, deep enough for an infield hit. Miranda's fifth hit of the night scored Paulino and put the Fireflies (20-29, 54-62) in front 8-7.
The Shorebirds (24-25, 59-57) had a chance in the ninth as Trevor Craport led off with a single, but Delmarva fell silent from there, settling for a split of the four-game series. The Shorebirds are now 1-1-10 in four-game sets this season.
Darwin Ramos (4-3) scooped up the win in relief with a scoreless eighth and ninth. Nick Vespi (4-5) suffered the loss, plus a blown save, letting the inherited tying run score in the seventh and allowing the unearned run to cross in the eighth.
Columbia opened the high-octane affair in the first inning with a two-run blast from Matt Winaker, his second homer of the series. The Shorebirds answered and found their groove in the second inning. Craport, Ryan Ripken, Cadyn Grenier, and Ben Breazeale strung together four straight singles, with Breazeale's infield knock plating Craport. Will Robertson then slashed a grounder over first and down the right field line for a double, scoring Ripken and Grenier to put Delmarva up 3-2. Three batters later, Zach Jarrett stroked a two-run triple off the angled wall in right center, capping the five-run frame and making it 5-2.
The Fireflies worked themselves back into it in the bottom of the third. Hansel Moreno placed a perfect bunt up the third base line for a leadoff single, then after a stolen base Miranda cracked a double to bring Moreno around to score. Miranda in turn took third on a grounder and scored on a passed ball, cutting the Shorebird lead to 5-4.
The teams traded a run each in the sixth inning. Will Robertson took a pitch off his body to lead off, then Kirvin Moesquit doubled him over to third. Branden Becker walked to load the bases, and Zach Jarrett drew another walk to force in a run and make it 6-4. Delmarva squandered a chance for more, though, as Seamus Curran struck out and Craport grounded into an inning-ending double play.
In the home sixth, Zach Rheams led off with a walk, and Edgardo Fermin hit a grounder to third that could have been two, but Becker took his foot off the bag at second before catching Craport's throw, and everybody was safe. Jose Brizuela followed with a single to bring in Rheams and cut it to 6-5.
Robertson doubled home another run in the top of the seventh to push the Delmarva lead to 7-5, but Columbia found enough offense to draw even in the next half inning. Moreno and Miranda led off with singles, and Matt Winaker took one off the shoulder to load the bases. Scott Manea then singled to plate Moreno and move everybody else up. Vespi came in from there, and after a strikeout he got Fermin to fly into shallow right, but Robertson's throw got to the plate late, and Miranda slid in with the tying run, knotting things up at 7-7 and setting up Columbia's winner in the eighth.
Robertson had a big day from the nine-hole for the Shorebirds, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, two runs, and three RBIs. Jarrett's triple was his third of the series; he finished with three RBIs to match Robertson. Craport went 3-for-4 with a double, walk, and run.
Miranda produced the first five-hit game of the season against the Shorebirds, finishing 5-for-5 with a double, two runs, and two RBIs. Moreno had two hits and two runs, and Brizuela finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Brenan Hanifee benefited from the ample run support but settled for no decision, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits over five innings, walking none and striking out six.
Columbia starter Tony Dibrell saw his teammates get him off the hook after five rough innings; he gave up five runs on seven hits while walking three, plunking two, and striking out five.
With Kannapolis and West Virginia both losing on the road, Delmarva held its ground in the Northern Division Wild Card standings; the Shorebirds trail the Intimidators by three games and the Power by a game and a half with 19 to play. First-half champion Lakewood holds a four-and-a-half-game lead over Hickory in the second half standings; a BlueClaws divisional sweep would throw it to the season-long wild card.
After a Tuesday off, the Shorebirds open a seven-game road trip on Wednesday night with the first of three against the Charleston RiverDogs. Brandon Bonilla (0-1, 2.57) is penciled in for Delmarva against Miguel Yajure (4-2, 3.30) for Charleston. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00. Wednesday is another Silver Sluggers Game presented by Peninsula Home Care. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 6:50 with Will DeBoer on the call.
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South Atlantic League Stories from August 13, 2018
- Late Firefly Push Force 'Birds into Split - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Miranda's Magical Night Lifts Fireflies to 8-7 Win - Columbia Fireflies
- Pascal Lifts Suns to 4-3 Victory in Ninth - Hagerstown Suns
- Three-Run Ninth Not Enough in Series Loss - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Intimidators Lose Eighth-Straight in Lexington - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- GreenJackets Go Full Throttle over Drive - Augusta GreenJackets
- Late Suns Rally Claims Four-Game Series against Rainbows - Charleston RiverDogs
- GreenJackets Shut Down Drive in Series Finale - Greenville Drive
- Almonte Walks It Off, Braves Win 5-4 - Rome Emperors
- Legends Complete Sweep of Intimidators in 3-1 Victory - Lexington Legends
- Fireflies Roster Move and Game Notes: August 13 vs. Delmarva (Game 116) - Columbia Fireflies
- West Virginia Power: Game Notes (August 13) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Late Rally Not Enough as 'Dads Lose 6-4 - Hickory Crawdads
- Golden, Tourists Complete Series Sweep - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Asheville Completes Sweep in Convincing Fashion - Asheville Tourists
- Rangel Named SAL Pitcher of the Week - Rome Emperors
- Suns Win Second Straight on Sunday Night - Hagerstown Suns
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