SHOREBIRDS GAME NOTES: 4/28 @ Asheville

PREVIEW: Following a 5-0 defeat to close the Hagerstown series, the Shorebirds open a four-game series against Southern Division foe, Asheville (Colorado Rockies). The Shorebirds have dropped to second place (0.5 game back) for the first time since 4/10.

FLYING OUT OF McCORMICK: The upcoming series features the top two home run hitting teams in the league at maybe the friendliest hitters park in the league. Through 12 games at McCormick Field, there have been 23 home runs hit between the Tourists and their opposition. The Shorebirds are coming from Municipal Stadium, where only seven home runs have been hit in 11 games.

8th IN THE LEAGUE: Garabez Rosa has climbed into the SAL’s top ten in batting average (.344) for the first time this season.

TOP OF THE LEAGUE: The Shorebirds held sole position of first place in the Northern Division for 16 straight days until last night.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Shorebirds are 7-4 away from Perdue Stadium and 3-5 at home this season. The ‘Birds are hitting .280 on the road and just .223 at home. The ‘Birds have scored 71 runs in ten games on the road (6.45 per), while they scored 31 runs in eight games at home (3.87 per).

2ND FASTEST GAME: The Shorebirds and Suns played the second quickest nine-inning game last night in the South Atlantic League this season (1:59). The fastest game of the year belongs to Augusta and Savannah. On 4/14, Augusta beat Savannah 1-0 in 1:55. The last time the Shorebirds were involved in a quicker nine-inning contest was on July 17, 2006. The Shorebirds lost to Hickory 2-0 in an hour and 55 minutes.

BEAL BAFFLES: Shorebirds pitcher Jesse Beal faced just one batter over the minimum in seven dominating innings yesterday. He hit a bump in the road in the eighth and was pinned with a tough loss. Beal allowed just four base runners through the first seven innings.

BULLPEN IS RESTED: In the last series (at Hagerstown), only four bullpen arms made appearances (Nathan Moreau, Jake Smith, Bobby Bundy and James Brandhorst). The pen tossed only seven innings during the series. Nick Haughian has experienced the longest layoff, as he has been idle since April 22nd. Ryan Palsha has been off for five days (April 23rd).

VS. LEFTIES: The Shorebirds have not fared well against left-handed pitchers this season. They are batting just .215. The ‘Birds are hitting .286 against right-handed arms. The Tourists will throw back-to-back lefties to start the series.

44 CAREER HBP: Tyler Kolodny was hit by another pitch yesterday to up his grand total to 44 for his career. Last season, he matched the Shorebirds franchise record with 17 HBPs. Amongst active Orioles minor leaguers, Kolodny is second in career HBPs. Only Danny Figueroa (46) has been hit by more pitches in his career. Figueroa was hit by 14 when he played for the Shorebirds in 2007. The South Atlantic League record for HBPs in a single-season is held by Nyjer Morgan, who was hit by 32 pitches back in 2004 for Hickory.

BUMBRY REACHES AGAIN: Steve Bumbry was hit by a pitch in yesterday’s game to extend his road on-base streak to nine games. He has failed to reach base on the road only once (4/8).