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SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

Shorebirds' Early Lead Slips Away, 9-7 Loss

April 17, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The Delmarva Shorebirds built an early lead, but they could not stave off a comeback bid from the Greensboro Grasshoppers. With a 9-7 defeat, Delmarva has lost three in a row to drop to 5-4 on the season.

Early on, the Shorebirds continued their success against Marlins' top prospect Tyler Kolek. The Grasshoppers' starter put on two free baserunners with a hit-by-pitch and walk in the second inning. Jared Breen chopped an infield single to third, beating out the throw and allowing both Riley Palmer and Jomar Reyes to score.

Delmarva doubled their lead with two more runs in the third. Alex Murphy ripped an RBI double, and Palmer flared an RBI single to left field. The Shorebirds ran Kolek out of the game after three innings, holding a 4-0 lead.

A pair of big innings for Greensboro propelled the home team to a come-from-behind victory. The Hoppers tied the game with four runs in the fourth inning. Shorebirds' starter Matthew Grimes had been cruising before the tables turned. The first five batters of the inning reached, with a two-run double by John Norwood cutting the lead in half. Rodrigo Vigil laced an RBI single, and Zach Sullivan knotted the game with a sacrifice fly.

The Shorebirds got some help to retake the lead. Jacob Smigelski issued four walks in the fifth inning, including a bases-loaded free pass to Elier Leyva to force in the go-ahead run, 5-4.

Greensboro took advantage of a few defensive miscues for another big inning in the seventh. Sullivan sneaked a single through the hole at second. Aaron Blanton rolled an infield single towards shortstop, as Jomar Reyes cut it off unable to get off a throw. Mason Davis dragged a bunt single, bobbled briefly and followed by a collision at the bag to bring in the tying run.

The Grasshoppers jumped in front on a sacrifice fly by Arturo Rodriguez, then added to the advantage after a fielding error by Ronarsy Ledesma. The unearned runs piled up as Vigil capitalized with a two-run single to make it 9-5.

The Shorebirds threatened in the ninth, but the deficit was too much to overcome. Murphy skied a two-run home run to dead center to halve the advantage to two runs, 9-7. After a hit batter, Greensboro brought on Colby Suggs. The closer ended the game with two strikeouts and a flyball, leaving the tying run at the plate.

Sam Alvis (1-0) earned the win for Greensboro, while Nick Cunningham (1-2) took a tough loss for Delmarva. Suggs recorded his first save of the season for the Grasshoppers. Murphy added three RBIs to his league-leading total, including his second home run of the year.

Delmarva will try to snap a three-game losing streak on Saturday night in game three in Greensboro. Delmarva has yet to announce a probable starter while left-hander Ben Holmes (0-1, 2.57) will start for the Grasshoppers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 pm at NewBridge Bank Park.

Check out the Delmarva Shorebirds Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from April 17, 2015


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