Shorebirds Game Notes at Hickory
Published on August 17, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release
PREVIEW: The Shorebirds had the tables turned on them with starting pitching working in the Hickory Crawdads' favor unlike the previous two nights. Tyler Smith hurled seven scoreless frames in the start for Hickory. Delmarva rallied in the ninth, but eventually lost 6-2. With a single in the 9th inning, Drew Dosch set a new Shorebirds record for hits in a single season with 151.
TODAY'S OPPONENT: David Ledbetter will start the series finale for the Hickory Crawdads on Sunday evening. Ledbetter has gone 5-6 with a 6.09 ERA for Hickory this season in 14 appear- ances (13 starts). The right-hander has faced Delmarva once before back on July 27th. Ledbetter struggled mightily, surrendering six runs on seven hits in just two innings. Hickory eventually won that game 13-10.
19TH SEASON: The 2014 season marks the 19th season of Shorebirds baseball on the Eastern Shore and 18th straight year as a Baltimore Orioles affiliate. The Shorebirds' first season was 1996 as a Montreal Expos farm team.
ORIOLES WATCH: The Baltimore Orioles lost back-to-back games for the first time since June 29th with a 6-0 defeat to the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night. Ubaldo Jimenez struggled in the start, giving up home runs to Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley. The Orioles' lead in the AL East has slipped to 6 1/2 games over the Toronto Blue Jays.
RACE FOR A BATTING TITLE: Two Shorebirds are in the running for the league batting title at year's end. Chance Sisco (.333) and Drew Dosch (.323) are both in the top 6 in the South Atlantic League among qualifying hitters in batting average. Michael Benjamin of the Asheville Tourists currently leads the league with a .341 mark, but he is currently on the disabled list and likely would not have enough plate appearances to qualify at the end of the season.
PLAYER TO WATCH
WHO'S HOT/WHO ELSE
STEVEN BRAULT | P
After losing six consecu- tive decisions, Brault has now won back-to-back starts with one run allowed in his last 13 innings. The left-hander now leads the team with nine wins. Brault leads the league in WHIP at 1.04, and he is 2nd in opponents' batting average (.227) and strikeouts (115). His 3.05 ERA ranks 7th in SAL.
WHO'S HOT - CONOR BIERFELDT
The Shorebirds outfielder/designated hitter added another RBI on Saturday evening, raising his team-high total to 67. Bierfeldt also leads the team with 12 home runs and 26 doubles.
WHO ELSE - GREGORY LORENZO
The Shorebirds outfielder swiped another bag last Saturday night, now 38 steals on the season. With 40 steals with Delmarva in 2013, and 6 in 2012, Lorenzo is the franchise record holder with 84 career stolen bases.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 17, 2014
- Grasshoppers Hitters too Hot in Series Finale - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Fast Start Fuels Crawdads in 7-2 Victory - Hickory Crawdads
- Suns Blanked by BlueClaws Twice in Four-Game Series Loss - Hagerstown Suns
- Thomas Homers as RiverDogs Split with Braves - Charleston RiverDogs
- Hit Parade for BlueClaws in 9-0 Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Hickory Splits with 7-2 Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Pitching, Homers Send Legends Past West Virginia 8-1 - Lexington Legends
- Power Splits with Lexington - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Series Captured with 11-3 Win - Asheville Tourists
- Gnats Complete Sweep Under the Sun on Sunday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Sand Gnats Sweep Drive with 3-2 Win - Greenville Drive
- Shorebirds Game Notes at Hickory - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Sweat Tea and Whiskey Brined Smoked Wings Close "Smokin' Chef" Series on Sunday - Charleston RiverDogs
- Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) at Greensboro Grasshoppers (Marlins) -- August 17, 2 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Former Charlotte 49er Barnette Promoted to Triple-A - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
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.
