
Shorebirds Wallop Hoppers to Clinch First Series
April 18, 2017 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release
SALISBURY, MD - In their largest win by margin of the season, the Delmarva Shorebirds used nine unanswered runs to bury the Greensboro Grasshoppers 13-3 on Tuesday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
The Shorebirds (6-7) struck early for the second consecutive night, scoring twice in the bottom of the first. Ryan McKenna led off with a walk and went to second on a balk. Chris Clare singed him to third, and Collin Woody's sac fly plated McKenna. Cole Billingsley followed with a single of his own to score Clare and make it 2-0.
The Grasshoppers (7-6) struck back immediately as Branden Berry slashed a two-run homer to left to tie it. Delmarva countered with two more in the bottom of the second as Alejandro Juvier scored on a pair of wild pitches and Jake Ring tallied his league-leading 16th RBI on a two-out single. Justin Twine's sac fly in the top of the third got Greensboro within one at 4-3, but Delmarva would turn on the jets soon after.
Daniel Fajardo cranked his first home run of the season, a leadoff scorcher down the left field line, to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. In the fifth, the Shorebirds loaded the bases with nobody out, but could only manage one run on Alejandro Juvier's sac fly to make it 6-3.
Delmarva would not waste another opportunity like that, loading the bases again with nobody out in the sixth. Clare rolled a cue ball down the first base line that ate up Colby Lusignan, bringing home a run on an error. Woody followed with a bloop single to left, scoring two. After a lineout and a pitching change, Preston Palmeiro made it a five-spot in the inning, shooting a double over the fist base bag and into the corner to score two and make it 11-3.
The Shorebirds upped their lead into double digits in the bottom of the seventh as Woody and Billingsley notched back-to-back two-out RBI singles.
Woody led the way at the plate for the 'Birds, going 2-for-2 with a run and four RBIs. He was also hit by the pitch twice, upping his SAL-leading total to seven. Clare finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and four runs.
McKenna went 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored. He saved the game defensively for the Shorebirds with two on in the top of the fourth, robbing Jarett Rindfleisch of extra bases with a dead-sprint, backhanded, over-the-shoulder catch in left center.
Francisco Jiménez (2-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Matthias Dietz, who allowed three runs in a career-best four innings. Jiménez tossed three scoreless no-hit innings, walking two and striking out one. Jake Bray handled the final two innings, allowing one hit and striking out five for the win.
Alex Mateo (0-2) took the loss for Greensboro, his second in as many starts against Delmarva, giving up six runs on seven hits in four-plus innings.
With a series win in their pockets, the Shorebirds go for the series sweep against the Grasshoppers on Wednesday night. Lefty Travis Seabrooke (1-1, 6.35) faces righthander Dustin Beggs (1-1, 3.00). First pitch is 7:05 p.m. with gates opening an hour before first pitch. Wednesday is the first Silver Sluggers game of the season, presented by Coastal Home Care. 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 18, 2017
- RiverDogs Let Early Lead Slip in Loss to Augusta - Charleston RiverDogs
- Kieboom Lands Go-Ahead Double in 6-4 Win at Lakewood - Hagerstown Suns
- Shorebirds Wallop Hoppers to Clinch First Series - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Fireflies Top Braves 8-3 in Rain Shortened Affair - Rome Emperors
- Santos Solid Again But Dunning a Bit Better - Asheville Tourists
- Ninth Inning Rally Solidifies Win for Dunning - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Tovar's Homer Pushes Drive Past Legends, 3-2 - Greenville Drive
- Streak Stretched to Five with 8-3 Win - Charleston Dirty Birds
- West Virginia Power ENewsletter - Charleston Dirty Birds
- RiverDogs Hope to Legalize Marinara, Set Silliest World Record In Upcoming Homestand - Charleston RiverDogs
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Jurassic Ballpark, PS4 Giveway Highlight April 20-23 Home Stand - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Intimidators Newsletter: Team Returns on Thursday with PS4 Giveaway; Jurassic Ballpark and Fireworks - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Rain, Slow Start Sours Tourists Evening - Asheville Tourists
- Clare, Ring Lead Shorebirds in Series-Opening Win - Delmarva Shorebirds
- RiverDogs Run All Over the GreenJackets - Augusta GreenJackets
- BlueClaws Walk off Suns in Another Marathon - Hagerstown Suns
- Green Fans Career-High, RiverDogs Swat GreenJackets in Opener - Charleston RiverDogs
- Hansen Fans 6 to Topple Tourists in Series Opener - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Taylor Strikes out Seven, Columbia Falls One Run Short - Columbia Fireflies
- Williams, BlueClaws Walk-Off Winners over Hagerstown - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Braves Edge Fireflies 3-2 - Rome Emperors
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.
Other Recent Delmarva Shorebirds Stories
- Shorebirds End First Half with Come-From-Behind Win in Hickory
- Crawdads Rally in the Ninth to Stun Shorebirds
- Hickory Rallies to Beat Delmarva in Series Opener
- Delmarva Rallies to Win Father's Day Finale
- Shorebirds Win Second Straight with Big Offensive Night

