SHOREBIRDS GAME NOTES: 5/28 vs. Lakewood

FOUR GAMES: The Shorebirds are playing their third straight four-game, one team stand. They played four against Hagerstown at home (20-23), four against Hickory on the road (24-27) and now four at home against Lakewood (28-31). The ‘Birds leave for Greensboro following the Monday afternoon game for four against the Grasshoppers. The Shorebirds next eight-game homestand is between June 14 and 20 against Kannapolis and Lexington.

NO HOMERS IN SIX GAMES: The Shorebirds have not a home run in their last six games. The last player to clear the yard was T.J. Baxter in game two against the Suns on May 21. The ‘Birds are tied for 12th in the league with 22 home runs.

KELLY’S SPLITS: The Lakewood BlueClaws will throw three right-handers against Delmarva during the series. The above bodes well for Shorebirds second baseman Ty Kelly. When he bats left-handed (against righty pitching), he is batting .306. When he flips around and bats right-handed (against lefty pitching), he is batting .167.

SIX-MAN ROTATION: The Shorebirds now feature a six-man rotation; LHP Nathan Moreau, RHP Matt Hobgood, RHP Jesse Beal, RHP Kenny Moreland, RHP Bobby Bundy and RHP Luis Noel.

BEAL’S MAY: Jesse Beal certainly has a chance to be the organizations pitcher of the month for May. Through five May starts, Beal is 3-0 with a 2.48 ERA. Beal has gone through the sixth inning in all five starts in May. Other pitchers around the league that will garner consideration include: Jake Arrieta (AAA, 3-1, 2.53), Armando Gabino (AAA, 2-0, 1.10), Pedro Beato (AA, 1-0, 0.87) and Brett Jacobsen (A+, 2-0, 0.00).

THREE STOLEN BASES: Steve Bumbry stole three bases in the four game series against the Crawdads. Prior to last season, Bumbry went 13 straight games without a steal.

FIVE-GAMER FOR T.J.: T.J. Baxter takes a season long five-game hitting streak into game one against the BlueClaws. He is 9-for-19 (.473) during the stretch. His batting average has jumped from .202 to .238 during the streak.

2007 TEAM USA: In 2007, Mychal Givens played on the 18U Junior National Team. Shorebirds second baseman from the 2009 season, L.J. Hoes, also played on that team. Givens hit .188 in five starts (3-16). They won the bronze medal at the Copabe Can Am Championships.

SIX OF SEVEN: Tyler Stampone has reached base in six of his last seven games.

BELOW .300: Shorebirds shortstop Garabez Rosa’s batting average has dipped below .300 for the first time since April 12th (fourth day of the season). Rosa went 0-for-4 last night against the Crawdads.