Perkins Walks 'Birds off Twice, Suns Sweep Twin Bill
April 23, 2017 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release
HAGERSTOWN, MD - Playing in their second doubleheader in three days, the Delmarva Shorebirds twice fell victim to Blake Perkins' heroics, losing to the Hagerstown Suns in walkoff fashion 4-1 in Game 1 and 5-4 in Game 2 at Municipal Stadium.
With the first game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Anderson Franco led off with a single and advanced to second after a walk to Tres Barrera. After a popout, Perkins came up only needing to plate Franco for the win. Instead, Perkins blasted a three-run homer to right center, winning the game in emphatic fashion.
Mick VanVossen (2-0) won the first game for the Suns (12-6), pitching two scoreless innings in relief. Zeke McGranahan (0-2) took the loss for the Shorebirds (8-10), serving up Perkins' three-run shot.
Delmarva manufactured a run in the top of the first inning. Ryan McKenna doubled to lead off the game, advancing to third on a wild pitch, and Jake Ring followed with a walk. Ring broke for second base on a pitch, then on the throw down to second, McKenna took off for the plate, sliding in just ahead of the returning tag. The double steal gave the Shorebirds a 1-0 lead.
The teams would trade zeroes for the next several innings as starters Zach Muckenhirn and Tyler Watson took control of the game. Muckenhirn didn't allow his first hit until the fourth inning, finishing with a no-decision for the Shorebirds after 5.1 innings of one-run, three-hit ball. Watson was similarly dominant in his five innings, allowing an identical one run on three hits for Hagerstown.
Muckenhirn got some help from his defense in the bottom of the fifth. With men on second and third with one out, Johnson hit a comebacker to the third base side of the mound. Muckenhirn grabbed it and caught lead baserunner Nick Banks in a rundown. Catcher Daniel Fajardo applied the tag to banks and noticed trailing runner Franco too far off the bag at second. Fajardo unleashed to second for a rare 1-5-2-4 double play, and the Shorebirds were out of the inning.
The Suns finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth as Perkins led off with a double. Carter Kieboom grounded out to advance Perkins to third, then Juan Soto lashed a sharp groundball to right through the drawn-in infield, plating Perkins to tie it and chase Muckenhirn from the game. McGranahan came in to get the final two outs, setting up Hagerstown's heroics in the seventh.
The second game started with similar fireworks. McKenna smashed another leadoff double and later scored on a double by Chris Clare. Clare advanced to third on a Collin Woody double, and Chris Shaw's RBI groundout brought him around to make it 2-0 Shorebirds.
Hagerstown got one back in the bottom of the first as Perkins singled, stole second, and scored on a pair of groundouts. The Shorebirds snatched that run back in the second inning as Gerrion Grim cranked a solo home run to left center, making it 3-1.
Perkins again manufactured a run in the bottom of the third, walking with one out, stealing his way to second and third, and scoring on a Soto single to make it 3-2.
It stayed 3-2 until the bottom of the seventh, the last chance for Hagerstown in the game. Aldrem Corredor wasted no time extending the contest, pounding the tying home run over the secondary wall in right center. The Suns had the chance to win it in the seventh, putting men on first and second with two outs, but Perkins popped out to short to send it to extras.
In the top of the eighth, Preston Palmeiro made a bid to win it for Delmarva, cracking a solo home run over the tall wall in left center field to make it 4-3. The lead was short-lived, though, as Carter Kieboom led off the bottom of the eighth with a home run to left field that exited Municipal Stadium, and the game continued.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Suns got back-to-back singles from Johnson and Jorge Tillero. After showing bunt and drawing the infield in, Angelo La Bruna pulled back mid-pitch and blooped a single into left, loading the bases. It was Perkins' moment again, and this time he wouldn't waste it, grounding a single up the middle to plate Johnson and win another for Hagerstown.
Kyle Simonds (2-0) won the second game for the Suns with two innings of one-run ball in extras. James Teague (0-1) took the loss after surrendering the tying run in the eighth and winning run in the ninth.
Matthias Dietz picked up a no-decision for the 'Birds in Game 2, pitching a career-best five innings and allowing two runs on five hits. The Suns' Hayden Howard pitched 4.1 innings in a spot start, allowing three runs on eight hits.
McKenna finished the day 3-for-8 with three doubles and two runs. Clare and Palmeiro each had three-hit games for Delmarva in Game 2, with Palmeiro lacing two doubles along with his homer.
Perkins went 4-for-8 in the two games for Hagerstown, scoring four runs and driving in four more.
The Suns won all three of its games in the four-game series in walk-off fashion. Through their first 18 games of the season, Delmarva has been walked off five times.
The Shorebirds will try to bounce back as they open a seven-game homestand with the first of three against the Lakewood BlueClaws. Left-hander Travis Seabrooke (1-1, 3.97) takes the hill for the Shorebirds against the BlueClaws' Bailey Falter (0-0, 2.45). First pitch is 7:05 p.m. with gates opening one hour prior. Monday is 47 ABC $2 Buck Monday, featuring upper reserved seats, hot dogs, and Pepsi products for $2 each. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports AM 960 and the MiLB First Pitch app begins at 6:50 p.m. with Will DeBoer on the call.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 23, 2017
- Blake Perkins Tallies Two Walk-Off Hits in Suns Doubleheader Sweep - Hagerstown Suns
- Perkins Walks 'Birds off Twice, Suns Sweep Twin Bill - Delmarva Shorebirds
- RiverDogs Fall Short in Finale, Drop Third Straight to Asheville to Close Homestand - Charleston RiverDogs
- Bullpen Slams the Door in Third Straight Win - Asheville Tourists
- Split Em: Power Split Doubleheader Sunday - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Legends Win 4-2, Take Three of Four in Columbia - Lexington Legends
- BlueClaws, Power Split Sunday Double-Header - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Fireflies Ninth Inning Rally Falls Short Sunday - Columbia Fireflies
- Fireflies Game Notes: April 23 vs. Lexington (Game 18) - Columbia Fireflies
- GAME POSTPONED: Rain Postpones Series Finale vs. Hickory - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Columbia Bullpen Shines in Loss to Lexington - Columbia Fireflies
- Legends Win 4-0 as Vines, Davila Combine for 4-Hit Shutout - Lexington Legends
- Pitching Remains Lights out for the Tourists - Asheville Tourists
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