Vespi Flexes, 'Birds Blank 'Hoppers Again
June 23, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release
GREENSBORO, NC - Nick Vespi took it up a notch on the mound for the Delmarva Shorebirds, who breezed to their 10th shutout victory of the season, 5-0 over the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Sunday afternoon at First National Bank Field.
Vespi (4-4) turned in the longest and best start of his career for the Shorebirds (3-1, 51-22), going seven innings of two-hit ball with one walk and four strikeouts. Since May 18, Vespi has posted a sterling 1.45 ERA (6 ER, 37.1 IP) over six starts. Colin Selby (3-2) took the loss for the Grasshoppers (1-3, 45-28), giving up four runs on four hits in six innings with a walk and six strikeouts.
After going quietly through the first two innings, the Shorebirds woke up their bats in the third. Ben Breazeale led off with a single, then two batters later Alexis Torres notched a single of his own. Doran Turchin walked to load the bases, then after a strikeout Cadyn Grenier worked the count full and lashed a full count single into left, scoring Breazeale and Torres. Robert Neustrom followed by banging a two-run double off the wall in right center, making it a four-spot in the inning and a 4-0 Delmarva lead.
Delmarva tacked on another in the seventh. Seamus Curran worked a nine-pitch walk to lead off, then Breazeale shot a line drive into left center for a single. Nick Horvath laid down a sac bunt, and Cam Alldred threw wild to the plate, allowing Curran to trot in to make it 5-0 Shorebirds.
The only real trouble Vespi ran into came in the bottom of the seventh. Patrick Dorrian punched a one-out single into center, then Fabricio Macias reached on an error to put men on first and second. Undeterred, Vespi calmly got Grant Koch to line out to right and coaxed a grounder to short off Justin Harrer's bat, making it through seven innings for the first time in his career.
Zach Matson finished the job from the bullpen in the eighth and ninth, getting all six of his outs via strikeout. Greensboro got a pair on in the eighth inning on a Zac Susi infield single and Connor Kaiser walk, but Matson struck out SAL home run and RBI leader Mason Martin to end the threat.
Grenier and Neustrom each plated a pair for the Shorebirds, while Breazeale finished 2-for-4 with a run.
Dorrian went 2-for-4 with a double for half of the Grasshoppers' four hits. Martin's first-inning double was the only other extra-base hit for Greensboro.
Since falling behind 11-2 through the sixth inning of Thursday night's opener, Delmarva outscored Greensboro 21-4 in the rest of the series, claiming three out of four and the series win, including two shutouts.
The Shorebirds return home for the first time in the second half with a three-game series against the Lakewood BlueClaws on Monday night. RHP Gray Fenter (5-1, 1.97) will make the start for Delmarva against Lakewood's Tyler McKay (2-4, 5.36). First pitch is set for 7:05 with gates opening at 6:00. Monday night at Perdue Stadium is 47 ABC $3 Buck Monday presented by Wicomico Heating & Air Conditioning. 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.
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