SHOREBIRDS GAME NOTES: 6/30 @ West Virginia

PREVIEW: The Shorebirds squeezed out a 4-3 win in game win as they aim to take a 2-0 lead in the series in game two. Tom Phelps earned his first win of the season in 2.2 innings pitched. James Brandhorst locked away his third save of the season by striking out Evan Chambers to end the game.

FIRST ROAD SERIES: The Shorebirds are on the road for the first time since June 10-12 when they played a three-game series in Lexington. The ‘Birds have only played eight games on the road in the month of June. Including the all-star break, the Shorebirds spent 16 straight days on the Eastern Shore.

BIRDS LOSE STAMPONE: Stampone suffered an injury to his left hand on Monday night. Stampone ranked second on the team in RBIs with 28. He was batting .249 in 59 games for the Shorebirds.

7 0F 16: Through the first five games of the second half, the Shorebirds have plated seven of their 16 total runs in the first two innings. The Shorebirds scored four runs through the first two innings on June 26 against Lakewood.

INDEPENDENCE DAY AT PERDUE: The Shorebirds have not been at home for July 4th since the 2005 season. That will end this season as they play the Hickory Crawdads on July 4th at Perdue Stadium. The last the ‘Birds were home on the fourth, they defeated Hagerstown 6-5. In 2009, the Shorebirds were in Kannapolis on July 4. In 2008, the ‘Birds were in Greensboro for the fourth. The Shorebirds will host an Independence Day Bash. There are a limited amount of tickets remaining for the Shorebirds return.

CONLEY/ROSA MONTH-BY-MONTH: Right-fielder Brian Conley hit .338 in April, .282 in May and just .254 in the month of June. Garabez Rosa hit .333 in April, .261 in May and .195 in June.

ZAGONE MOVING TO DOUBLE-A: Rick Zagone is set to make his Double-A debut for the Bowie BaySox tonight against the Erie SeaWolves. Zagone pitched for the Shorebirds in 2009. He went 4-5 with a 4.66 ERA before earning a mid-season promotion to Frederick. Zagone was a 2009 SAL All-Star.

FIRST IN SYSTEM: Shorebirds closer Josh Dowdy is first in the Orioles system in saves with 11. Dowdy has not thrown since June 26th when he was nailed on the pinky finger of his right hand by a line drive off the bat of Jiwan James (Lakewood).

TRIPLES RECORD WATCH: Steve Bumbry is tied for fourth in the SAL with seven triples on the year. Evan Crawford of Augusta leads the loop with ten triples. The single-season Shorebirds record for triples is 18.

MOST ONE-RUN GAMES: The Shorebirds lead the South Atlantic League with 26 one-run games (13-13). West Virginia has played in 18 one-run games (9-9).