SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

Suns Outlast 'Birds in 12-Inning Marathon, 11-8

Published on June 28, 2015 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


SALISBURY, Md. -- The Delmarva Shorebirds were an out away from their third straight victory, but Hagerstown found some late-inning magic to force extras and ultimately win 11-8. In the longest game of the year, Delmarva finally succumbed when the Suns scored three runs in the 12th inning.

After a brief early deficit, Delmarva built an 8-3 lead by scoring in four straight frames. Elier Leyva punched an RBI single, set up by a triple by Riley Palmer. Leyva scored on a bases-loaded walk drawn by Steve Wilkerson. Palmer laced an RBI double in the third, his second extra base hit of the night.

The Shorebirds kept the party going with an RBI single by T.J. Olesczuk in the fourth inning. Wilkerson lined an RBI single up the middle in the fifth, and Olesczuk was back at it again with a two-run double. Delmarva led by five runs after five innings, 8-3.

Hagerstown began the comeback quietly with two runs in the sixth inning off starter John Means. Austin Davidson delivered an RBI single and later scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-5. Shorebirds reliever Ivan Hernandez kept the Suns at bay with two perfect innings.

The Suns remained within striking distance headed to the ninth, but Delmarva looked to all but wrap up the win. Shorebirds' closer Garrett Cortright retired the first two batters on groundouts before the trouble began. Alec Keller beat out an infield single on a high chopper to second base. Osvaldo Abreu reached on an error on a bouncer towards third base, bringing the tying run to the plate. Matt Reistetter then crushed a two-strike pitch over the right field fence to tie the game, 8-8.

Delmarva had several chances for the walk-off win, but Hagerstown escaped each one. The Shorebirds stranded the winning run on second base in the ninth. In the tenth, Cam Kneeland was thrown out at home trying to score on a single by Leyva. Jeff Gardner's assist from left field saved the game for Hagerstown.

In the 12th, Hagerstown finally broke through with an RBI triple by Grant DeBruin. The Suns tacked on two more on a throwing error and RBI single by David Masters for an 11-8 final.

Jake Walsh earned the victory for the Suns with another impressive relief appearance, and Kevin Perez finished off the save. Nigel Nootbaar settled for his first loss as a Shorebird in the marathon defeat, lasting four hours and 15 minutes, easily the longest of the year.

The two squads will regroup for a doubleheader on Monday, making up the rainout from Saturday night. Left-hander Brian Gonzalez (4-4, 4.81) starts game one against Suns' right-hander Austen Williams (6-1, 1.77). First pitch is scheduled for 4:35 p.m. at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

Check out the Delmarva Shorebirds Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 28, 2015


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