SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

Shorebirds Sneak by Suns on Fourth

Published on July 4, 2019 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


SALISBURY, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds' bullpen held firm down the stretch as they eked out a 3-2 win over the Hagerstown Suns on Thursday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

Hector Guance (6-3) earned his second consecutive win for the Shorebirds (11-4, 59-25), allowing two runs (one eanred on two hits across five innings with one walk and two strikeouts. Guance has now gone at least five innings in his past five starts, striking out 25 across 27.1 innings with a 3.29 ERA.

Reid Schaller (0-1) suffered the defeat for the Suns (5-10, 35-50). Schaller lasted just two innings, allowing three runs on two hits and five walks while striking out three. Matt De La Rosa earned his third save of the season for the Shorebirds, striking out Jackson Cluff to end the game and stranding the tying run at second and go-ahead run at first.

Delmarva opened the scoring in the first. Robert Neustrom and Adam Hall each worked one-out walks and then advanced a base each on a wild pitch. Cadyn Grenier proceeded to bounce out to third, bringing home Neustrom, and giving the Shorebirds a 1-0 lead. Edison Lanitgua followed with a single to right which Hall tried to score on, but he was cut down at the plate on a throw from Cody Wilson in right to end the inning.

Hagerstown the gifted the Shorebirds a rally in the second. With two away, Cody Roberts, Nick Horvath, and Jaylen Ferguson each drew walks. Neustrom then capitalized as he laced a ball to the wall in right, plating two runs to make it 3-0 Shorebirds.

The Suns countered with two in the third. Tyler Cropley was hit by a pitch to begin the inning and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Wilson then got plunked to put two aboard. After a flyout, Jackson Cluff walked to load the bases. Drew Mendoza rolled a ball into the hole at short that Adam Hall made a diving play on, but Hall was unable to get an out anywhere, allowing a run to score. Jacob Rhinesmith then rolled a swinging bunt up the first base line that Guance couldn't field cleanly, letting another run score and shrinking the Delmarva lead to 3-2. Guance did limit the damage however as he struck out Nic Perkins with the bases loaded to end the inning.

The Shorebirds pitching staff held firm after the third, throwing the final six innings in scoreless fashion to give the game its final score of 3-2. Jhon Peluffo threw two shutout frames, striking out three, to earn his fourth hold of the year, while Felix Bautista put up a zero in the eighth for his first hold of the season, before handing the baton to De La Rosa.

Justin Connell worked a two-out walk to get himself aboard in the ninth, and Rafael Bautista followed with an infield single to put two on. That brough up Cluff, and De La Rosa mowed him down on a 1-2 pitch to put it to bed.

Neustrom knocked in two of Delmarva's three runs, going 1-for-2 with a double and a walk. Ryne Ogren socked his fifth double of the season while Lantigua picked up a single, the only other hit of the game for the Shorebirds.

Hagerstown stranded nine on base and went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Cluff had the only multi-hit performance of the game, going 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base for the Suns.

The Shorebirds continue their series with Suns on Friday night. Nick Vespi (4-4, 3.57) gets the call for Delmarva against Hagerstown's Jake Irvin (4-5, 4.73). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00. The first 500 fans through the gates of Perdue Stadium for Friday's game will receive a Patriotic Bucket Hat presented by Spicer Bros. Construction. It is also Froggy 99.9 Big Beer Friday presented by First Class HVAC and Orange Friday. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 6:50 with Will DeBoer and Sam Jellinek on the call.

Check out the Delmarva Shorebirds Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 4, 2019


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