SHOREBIRDS LEVEL SERIES WITH 3-1 WIN OVER LAKEWOOD

Brian Conley Hits Third Homer in Four Games

SALISBURY, Md. – First baseman Mike Flacco went 3-for-3 with a walk and Kevin Landry tossed three innings of four-hit relief to pace the Delmarva Shorebirds to a 3-1 win over the Lakewood BlueClaws at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium Sunday.

Flacco, the brother of Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback Joe Flacco, who was promoted from Aberdeen before the game, made his 2010 debut for Delmarva a memorable one. Flacco tallied a double and an RBI to help the Shorebirds (47-52) win the second game of the series against the BlueClaws (60-38).

Landry (2-0) allowed one run and struck out five to spell a tired bullpen which used all but one pitcher in Saturday’s 8-7 18-inning loss.

Brian Parker threw a perfect ninth with a strikeout to earn his second save of the season.

After a one hour, 28-minute rain delay to begin the bottom of the second, Brian Conley put the Shorebirds on the board with a solo home run to right in the third. The blast was the right fielder’s sixth of the season.

Conley lengthened the Delmarva lead in the bottom of the fifth. He started the inning with a walk, stole second and scored on a single to left by Flacco.

Lakewood cut into the lead in the top of the sixth off of reliever Nick Haughian. Left fielder Michael Dabbs muscled a pitch into center to score Jonathan Villar from third with two outs.

Villar gave the run back in the bottom of the inning. Gary Helmick struck out to open the frame, but reached first on a wild pitch from Mike McGuire. Helmick then stole second and came around when Villar committed his 40th error of the season, a groundball to shortstop that he allowed to get through his legs.

Mike McGuire (0-1) took the loss for Lakewood, relieving starter Josh Zied, who pitched one inning before the delay.

McGuire allowed all three runs – two earned – on seven hits in five innings.

The Shorebirds and BlueClaws play games 3 and 4 of the series Monday with a doubleheader beginning at 6:05 p.m. Delmarva will send right-hander Brent Allar (2-1, 4.82) to the mound to oppose Lakewood righty Brody Colvin (5-6, 3.50).