Litscher, 'Birds Shut out Drive Again
July 31, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release
GREENVILLE, SC - The Delmarva Shorebirds continued to mystify the Greenville Drive from the pitcher's mound, notching their 16th team shutout of the season with a 5-0 win on Wednesday night at Fluor Field at the West End.
Dallas Litscher (1-0) kept up his hot start for the Shorebirds (26-13, 74-34), tossing six scoreless four-hit innings with two walks and four strikeouts. Brayan Bello (5-7) took the loss for the Drive (16-23, 46-61), surrendering five runs on nine hits in five innings. Alex Stauffer handled two-plus scoreless for Delmarva after Litscher, and Felix Bautista finished off a scoreless ninth to give the Shorebirds yet another clean sheet.
All of Delmarva's scoring on the night came in a big third inning. Zach Watson led off with a double, then after a groundout Johnny Rizer singled to right, putting men on the corners. Jaylen Ferguson came up next and slammed a triple off the wall in dead center, scoring Watson and Rizer to put the Shorebirds up 2-0. Ryne Ogren got hit by a pitch to follow, and Jean Carlos Encarnacion slashed a double down the left field line, scoring Ferguson and moving Ogren to third. Seamus Curran then rolled a grounder up the middle that deflected off the second base bag and into center for a two-run single, making it a five-spot and a 5-0 Shorebird lead.
The Drive threatened several times against Litscher but could never break through. Litscher coaxed inning-ending double plays in the first and fourth, and he worked around a pair of singles in the third with no trouble.
Stauffer entered in the seventh and saw the first two men reach on a walk and single, but he got one out on a fielder's choice and another on a popout before striking out Everlouis Lozada to end the frame.
In the bottom of the ninth, Tyler Esplin and Kole Cottam led off with back-to-back walks against Stauffer, forcing Bautista in from the bullpen. after a flyout and strikeout, Bautista walked Grant Williams to load the bases. Bautista buckled down, though, and fanned Lozada on three pitches to put it on ice.
Encarnacion banged a pair of doubles for the Shorebirds, going 2-for-4 with a run and RBI. Rizer finished 3-for-5 with a run scored, and Curran went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Ferguson went 2-for-3 with a triple, run, and two RBIs before exiting the game in the fourth after a violent swing at the plate.
Esplin finished 1-for-3 with a double, the only extra-base hit among Greenville's five knocks on the night. Cottam notched a single and walked three times, while Wren went 2-for-4.
The shutout is the Shorebirds' fourth in their last eight games, three of which have come against the Drive. Over their last 32 innings against Greenville since a July 24 doubleheader, Delmarva pitching has given up just two runs, good for a 0.56 ERA.
The Shorebirds look to make it two in a row against the Drive on Thursday night. Gray Fenter (6-2, 2.03) gets on the bump for Delmarva against Greenville's Alex Scherff (4-9, 5.00). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m., and pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 6:50 with Will DeBoer on the call.
South Atlantic League Stories from July 31, 2019
- Tourists Come out Swinging to Open the Homestand - Asheville Tourists
- Smith's Heroics Not Enough, Dogs Fall in Opener - Charleston RiverDogs
- Jackets Open Homestand with Comeback Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Litscher, 'Birds Shut out Drive Again - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Five-Run Third Sends Delmarva Past Greenville - Greenville Drive
- Mendoza Caps off Win with Walk-Off - Hagerstown Suns
- Shenton's Three-Run Homer Not Enough in 5-4 Loss - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Claws Lose Late Lead, Fall 8-7 at Augusta - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Intimidators Quiet in 3-0 Setback - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- RiverDogs Host Online Charity Auction in August - Charleston RiverDogs
- Fireflies Roster Move and Game Notes: July 31 at Kannapolis (Game 105) - Columbia Fireflies
- Hagerstown Suns: Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Homestand #10 Preview: July 31-August 6 - Hagerstown Suns
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.
