‘BIRDS COMEBACK TO WIN FIFTH STRAIGHT, 3-2

‘Birds Plate Three Runs in Eighth Inning

Salisbury, Md. – The Delmarva Shorebirds (12-9) erased a 3-0 deficit in the eighth inning and defeated the West Virginia Power 3-2 on Friday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. Delmarva has now won five straight games, their second longest winning streak of the season. The Shorebirds have also won three of their last four series’.

Patrick Kantakevich and Jason Erickson were engaged in a scoreless pitcher’s duel through the first five innings. The skies opened and rain started to fall immediately following the fifth inning. A 38-minute rain delay ensued and both starters were removed after the delay.

Kantakevich allowed just one hit over five scoreless innings. He fanned three and also walked three. Meanwhile, Erickson allowed just four hits in five shutout innings.

West Virginia jumped on new relief pitcher Nick Haughian in the sixth inning. Jarek Cunningham hit a lead off triple to right-center field. David Rubinstein followed with a double down the left field line to give the Power a 1-0 edge.

The Power padded their lead in the eighth. Ramon Cabrera hit a two-out single to plate Rubinstein.

Down 2-0, the Shorebirds battled back in the eighth. Ty Kelly hit a one-out infield single to first. After a second out was recorded, Kieron Pope rifled a 3-2 pitch to the wall in left to score Kelly from first. Then, Steve Bumbry hit a hard chopper back to the hill that ricocheted off the glove of relief pitcher Gabriel Alvarado and into right field to score Pope. The ‘Birds grabbed the lead on a Gary Helmick flare single to right field.

David Walters entered in the ninth inning and locked away his first save of the season.

The Shorebirds and Power square off in game four of the series on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. RHP Bobby Bundy makes the start for the Shorebirds.