BAXTER SCORES ON WILD PITCH TO GIVE SHOREBIRDS 3-2 WIN IN 11 INNINGS

PALSHA’S STRONG RELIEF EFFORT BUOYS FIRST HOME WIN OF SEASON

SALISBURY, Md. – T.J. Baxter scored all the way from second on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Delmarva Shorebirds over the Hagerstown Suns, 3-2, and salvage the final game of a four-game series at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium on Monday.

With Glen Gibson (1-1) on for his second inning of relief, he tossed the third ball of an intentional walk to Tyler Koldny over the head of catcher Sandy Leon, allowing Baxter to race home and give Delmarva (7-5) its first home win of the season. The keeps the Shorebirds atop South Atlantic League’s Northern Division. Hagerstown fell to 6-6 with the loss.

Ryan Palsha moved to 1-0 on the season with four innings of stellar relief. He allowed just a hit and a walk and fanned six.

Mikey Planeta led Delmarva at the plate, going 2-for-4 while J.P. Ramirez also had a pair of hits in four at-bats and scored a run.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Delmarva catcher Luis Bernardo reached on a fielder’s choice and used a pair of wild pitches to scamper home from third with two outs to tie the game at 2-all and send the game into extra innings.

The Shorebirds got on the scoreboard first in the second inning. South Atlantic League Player of the Week Kolodny, the league leader in home runs, started the frame, pushing a bunt up the third base line for a base hit.

Kolodny then stole second and was driven home by Brian Conley. Conley snuck a double past the dive of Hagerstown first baseman Brett Newsome to score Kolodny with one out for a 1-0 lead.

Hagerstown responded with two runs in the fifth as the first three men to hit against Delmarva starter Jake Cowan reached base. Marcus Jones led off the inning with a single to right, followed by a double to center by Ramirez, moving Jones to third.

Newsome then dumped a base hit over the head of Shorebirds’ second baseman Ty Kelly to score Jones and knot the game, 1-1.

Suns’ catcher Sandy Leon broke the tie with a fielder’s choice to shortstop that brought home Ramirez from third for the lead.

Delmarva starter Jake Cowan turned in a solid performance on the hill for the ‘Birds but earned a no decision. He went seven innings scattered six hits and two runs and two walks. He struck out seven.

The Shorebirds are back in action Tuesday against the Greensboro Grasshoppers at 7:05 p.m. For tickets and information, contact the Shorebirds’ box office at (410) 219-3112. On the mound will be right-hander Matt Hobgood (1-0, 4.66 ERA). Greensboro counters with righty Erik Carrillo (0-2, 11.70).