SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

McCoy Flashes Leather, Lumber in Walkoff Win

Published on July 8, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


SALISBURY, MD - Mason McCoy capped an exceptional day in the field with a walkoff single in the bottom of the ninth, lifting the Delmarva Shorebirds to a 2-1 win over the Hickory Crawdads on Sunday evening at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

With the game tied at 1-1, Cadyn Grenier led off the ninth with a sharp single into right center. With Zach Jarrett at the plate, Grenier broke for second and slid in just ahead of the throw from All-Star catcher Yohel Pozo. On the very next pitch, Grenier got a great jump and broke for third, stealing his way from corner to corner. Jarrett struck out on the pitch but the Shorebirds (11-7, 46-39) found the winning run 90 feet from the plate with just one out.

Trevor Craport drew a walk on a full count and eventually took second on the Crawdads' (8-9, 38-47) indifference. With the infield drawn in, Branden Becker had a chance to be a hero, but his sharp grounder to short got snuffed out by Ryan Dorow, who made a diving play to his right and stared Grenier back to third. Up came McCoy with two down, and on a 2-2 pitch he connected on a sharp grounder through the hole on the left side. Grenier jogged in easily and joined a wave of teammates pouring out of the dugout to mob McCoy at first base.

Nick Vespi (3-3) tossed a perfect ninth inning en route to the win for the Shorebirds. Joe Barlow (3-3) took the loss after giving up the winning run in his 1.2 relief innings.

Delmarva's Brenan Hanifee settled for no decision but was efficient through his eight innings, giving up just an unearned run on seven hits while hitting one batter and striking out one. Over his last five starts Hanifee boasts a miniscule 1.50 ERA.

Hickory's Alex Eubanks also pitched a solid game in a no-decision, allowing three runs over seven innings while walking one and striking out five. He retired the first 12 in a row to face him over four perfect innings.

The Shorebirds finally broke through against Eubanks in the fifth. Craport led off with a double, and Becker singled to move Craport up to third. A walk to McCoy loaded the bases with nobody out, and two batters later Chris Shaw lifted a sac fly into left, scoring Craport to put Delmarva up 1-0.

The Crawdads drew even in the eighth. Yonny Hernandez singled with one out, stole second, and took third when Chris Shaw's throw sailed into center field. Bubba Thompson followed with a sac fly to left center, and Hernandez slid in ahead of a throw fro Jarrett to tie the game at 1-1, setting up Delmarva's heroics in the ninth.

McCoy's walkoff hit was his second of the season, the team's fourth overall, and first since McCoy's own bases-loaded single to beat Greenville in the 11th inning on May 3. Not just a star at the plate, McCoy turned in an abundant day at shortstop, starting four double plays with middle infield mate Kirvin Moesquit. The McCoy-Moesquit-Craport triad matched the most twin killers the Shorebirds have turned in a game this season and gave Tinker, Evers, and Chance a run for their money.

Grenier notched his second multi-hit game in his first four pro contests, going 2-for-4 with a double, plus the two stolen bases and game-winning run in the ninth.

Dorow and Sam Huff each had two hits for the Crawdads.

At 2 hours 2 minutes the game was the quickest the Shorebirds have played all season.

The Shorebirds will look to sweep the Crawdads on Monday. Luis Garcia (1-0, 0.00) gets the start for Delmarva against Hickory's Tyler Phillips (5-5, 3.44). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00. Monday is 47 ABC $2 Buck Monday presented by Wicomico Heating and Air Conditioning. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 6:50 with Will DeBoer on the call.

Check out the Delmarva Shorebirds Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 8, 2018


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