SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

Olesczuk Shines in Debut, 8-2 Victory

Published on June 4, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


KANNAPOLIS, N.C. -- The Shorebirds' offense clicked for eight runs on 13 hits, defeating the Kannapolis Intimidators by a score of 8-2 in Thursday's series opener. Delmarva (24-28) used a five-run fourth inning for a comfortable road win.

Delmarva scored first with another fresh face contributing. After a leadoff walk to Jay Gonzalez, T.J. Olesczuk laced an RBI double into the right-center gap for a 1-0 lead in the third.

Kannapolis quickly responded with a pair of doubles by John Ziznewski and Eddy Alvarez. The go-ahead run came across on an RBI grounder by Nick Basto, putting the Intimidators up 2-1 after three innings.

The offense broke out in the fourth inning, scoring five runs to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 6-2 advantage. After three singles loaded the bases, Gonzalez sliced a ground-rule double down the left field line to retake the lead. Olesczuk added an RBI single, and Conor Bierfeldt blasted an RBI double to cap the rally. For Bierfeldt, it was his first RBI in a week, a long drought for the league leader with 46 RBIs.

Olesczuk was at the center of the fifth inning as well. The outfielder lined a two-run single to push the lead out to 8-2. In his Shorebirds' debut, Olesczuk went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double and four RBIs. Gonzalez reached base five times with a pair of hits and three walks, while Elier Leyva recorded a three-hit game.

John Means delivered a quality start, winning his second straight start and improving to 4-2 on the season. Garrett Cortright and Nigel Nootbaar combined for three scoreless innings in relief.

The Shorebirds continue the four-game series with game two on Friday evening in Kannapolis. Left-hander Brian Gonzalez (3-3, 5.29) starts for Delmarva against Intimidators' right-hander Thad Lowry (5-2, 3.81). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Intimidators Stadium.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 4, 2015


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