SAL1 Delmarva Shorebirds

Wheel Rolls on as 'Birds Take Series

Published on June 28, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Delmarva Shorebirds News Release


GREENSBORO, NC - The Delmarva Shorebirds kept their offensive machine firing for a their third straight win, downing the Greensboro Grasshoppers 8-3 on Thursday night at First National Bank Field.

Brenan Hanifee (7-3) earned a win with his ninth Quality Start for the Shorebirds (5-3, 40-35), allowing two runs on seven hits over six innings while walking one and striking out four. Brandon Miller (2-7) took the loss for the Grasshoppers (4-3, 38-38), giving up all eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits in 5.2 innings.

A night after leading off the game with a home run, Kirvin Moesquit started proceedings more quietly but with the same result. He led off with a walk and promptly stole second base. Zach Jarrett singled him over to third two batters later, and Trevor Craport followed with a sac fly to left, scoring Moesquit to put the Shorebirds up 1-0.

Delmarva increased its holdings in the third. Ben Breazeale led off with a single, then after two quick outs, Jarrett walked. Craport then hit a sharp single up the middle, scoring Breazeale. Branden Becker came up next and belted a long home run across the street in right field, his second of the season, to make it a four-spot and a 5-0 lead.

The Grasshoppers grabbed a pair back in their half of the third. Garvis Lara singled to lead off, and Jose Devers doubled him home two batters later. Will Allen then came through with a two-out single, scoring Devers to cut the Delmarva cushion to 5-2.

The Shorebirds reinforced their flank with a big sixth. Will Robertson cracked a frozen rope of a solo home run to left, his fifth of the year. Ryan Ripken followed with a single, then after a cue ball groundout to send Ripken to second, Ben Breazeale tagged an RBI single to make it 7-2. Moesquit took Breazeale's place at first on a fielder's choice and stole his second base of the night, reaching third on a bad throw from the catcher. Mason McCoy then hit a grounder to short that Marcos Rivera overthrew to first, allowing Moesquit to score to make it 8-2.

Greensboro got just one more in the seventh on a walk, Lara double, and Thomas Jones sac fly, but Scott Burke and Alex Katz combined for three effective innings out of the bullpen to bring things to an end.

Becker finished 3-for-5 with a double, home run, and three RBIs, continuing a sizzling June. Through 21 games this month, Becker is batting .358 with six doubles, two homers, 14 RBIs, and a .902 OPS. He has raised his average from .208 to .277 this month alone.

Craport went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs; he has driven in 10 runs over the last three games. Breazeale finished 3-for-4 with a run and RBI.

Delmarva's offense has pounded out 40 runs over the past three games; it scored just 13 runs over the first five games of the second half.

Lara led the Grasshoppers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and run.

With back-to-back series wins in their pockets, the Shorebirds go for a sweep of the Grasshoppers on Friday night. Delmarva's Matthias Dietz (6-1, 2.61) matches up against Greensboro's Daniel Castano (team debut). First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m., and pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 6:45 with Will DeBoer on the call.

Check out the Delmarva Shorebirds Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 28, 2018


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