SHOREBIRDS GAME NOTES: 5/24 @ Hickory

PREVIEW: The Shorebirds return to the road after dropping their fourth consecutive series, four games to one to Hagerstown. Hagerstown plated six runs in the fifth inning to run past the Shorebirds yesterday afternoon. The Shorebirds last series win was between April 28 and May 1 when they beat Asheville three games to one.

SHUFFLING THE DECK:

The Shorebirds roster been shuffled up several times over the last three days. Since May 20th, the Orioles have added RHP Luis Noel, RHP Kenny Moreland, RHP Patrick Kantakevich, OF Kieron Pope and RHP Zachary Clark (pitched in one game). The Shorebirds have lost IF Mike Mooney, RHP Ryan Berry, RHP Jake Cowan.

NEW ROTATION:

The Shorebirds have a brand new rotation with Beal and Hobgood the only remaining members of the original five. Jake Cowan is on the disabled list, Tony Butler has been moved to the bullpen and Ryan Berry was promoted to Frederick.

5TH IN SAL:

Brian Conley ranks fifth in the South Atlantic League with a .326 batting average. He is the lone Shorebirds player in the top 10.

DOULBES TEAM:

The Shorebirds rank tied for second in the league with 94 doubles. Only Kannapolis (97) has connected on more two-baggers. Garabez Rosa leads the Shorebirds with 15 doubles.
36.2 INNINGS: Jesse Beal has not allowed a home run in his last 36.2 innings pitched. The only homer he has allowed this season was in the third inning of the Greensboro game on April 21 (Kyle Skipworth). Only four starters in the SAL with at least eight starts have gone without surrendering a homer.


12TH IN LEAGUE:

Jesse Beal ranks 12th in the SAL in innings pitched (49.2). Assuming nobody else above him pitches tonight, Beal could move into fourth in the league if he goes six innings.
SINCE 2005 VS. HICKORY: The Shorebirds are 20-22 against the Crawdads since the 2005 season. The Shorebirds swept Hickory in the lone series back in 2008 (4-0).


HAUGHIAN HAUNTING OPPOSITION: Shorebirds reliever Nick Haughian has seen his ERA dip from 11.12 (after his third appearance of the season) to 2.82 today. The left-hander has only allowed one earned run over his last eight appearances (20 innings). Haughian is also a perfect 3-0 on the year.


FOUR LEFTIES IN PEN:

The new Shorebirds bullpen now features four left-handed arms (Nathan Moreau, Nick Haughian, Tony Butler and Jake Smith).

POPE PLAYS FIRST:

After breaking his right femur in a spring training game on April 3, 2009, Kieron Pope played his first game since the injury last night against Hagerstown. He did not play at all in 2009. Pope is now the most experienced Shorebirds position player. He has played in 226 minor league games. In 2008 for the Shorebirds, Pope connected on 12 home runs and drove in 45 runs.

KENNY MORELAND TO START GAME TWO:

The Shorebirds have announced that Kenny Moreland will make his first start of the season for Delmarva on Tuesday night. Moreland was added to the roster on May 22. In seven starts and 10 appearances for the Frederick Keys, he posted a 2-2 mark with a 5.22 ERA. Moreland was signed by the Orioles as a non-drafted free agent in 2008 out of Christopher Newport, a Division III school in Newport News, Va. He went 13-0 with a 1.97 ERA in his senior season (both school records).