Tourists Own Opening Day, 8-3
Published on April 3, 2014 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release
Salisbury, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds fell behind early, and the late-inning efforts fell short in the regular season opener, 8-3 to Asheville. The Tourists coasted after scoring eight runs in the first five innings. With the disappointing Opening Day, Delmarva loses their season opener for the first time in four years.
Steven Brault made his Shorebirds' debut as the Opening Day starter. Pitching in the full-season ranks for the first time, Brault started strong, but fell off the pace in the third inning. After a leadoff single and sacrifice bunt to begin the frame, David Dahl blasted a triple off the right-center wall to open the scoring in the third. Jose Briceno followed with an RBI groundout, and Jordan Patterson ripped an RBI double to make it 3-0.
In the fourth, Asheville jumped on Brault once again. Back-to-back singles by Pat Valaika and Michael Benjamin put runners on the corners. Raimel Tapia laid down a perfectly placed bunt to score Valaika. Brault attempted to flip the ball to home with his glove, but it was off the line. Asheville made it 6-0 with a sacrifice fly by Ryan McMahon and an RBI single by Briceno.
Williams Louico relieved Brault in the fifth, but the pressure did not relent from the Tourists. Three singles and a sacrifice fly led to two more runs for Asheville, pushing the scoring to 8-0.
Johendi Jiminian shut down the Shorebirds in his Opening Day start for Asheville. The right-hander hurled six shutout innings, allowing only two hits. The Shorebirds did not get on the board until the seventh. A double by Chance Sisco led to a run off an infield single by Gregory Lorenzo.
Delmarva scored twice more in the ninth, but the result was well in hand for the Tourists. Jeff Kemp led off the ninth with a triple off the wall in center. Sisco roped his second double of the game, bringing home Kemp. Sisco then scored on a bounce out to second by Anthony Caronia.
Jon Keller impressed in two innings of relief for Delmarva. The tall right-hander surrendered a double to start his outing, but settled down by retiring the next six batters. Keller racked up four strikeouts, including three straight to retire the side in order in the seventh. David Richardson also pitched a perfect eighth inning.
Jiminian earned the win for Asheville to move to 1-0. Brault starts his 2014 season with a loss, allowing six runs on eight hits in four innings.
Delmarva will try to notch their first win of the season on Friday evening. Right-hander Hunter Harvey will make his Shorebirds' debut against Tourists' righty Zach Jemiola. First pitch at McCormick Field is at 7:05 pm on Friday.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 3, 2014
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- Legends Game Suspended Due to Rain - Lexington Legends
- Power and Lexington Suspended - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Charleston's Celebrity Chefs Are Smokin' at the Joe - Charleston RiverDogs
- WV Power Game Notes - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Game Notes: Kannapolis Intimidators (White Sox) vs. Greenville Drive (Red Sox) - April 3, 2014 - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- 'Dads to Stream Games Online - Hickory Crawdads
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