SHOREBIRDS SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER WITH SUNS

Series Finale Set for Friday Night at 7:05 p.m.

Salisbury, Md. – The Delmarva Shorebirds split a doubleheader with the Hagerstown Suns, taking the first game 4-3 and dropping the nightcap 6-2.

The Suns broke on top with a run in the top of the third of game one. Hagerstown designated hitter J.P. Ramirez reached on a single to third to score Eury Perez.

Perez hit a blooper to right to score Stephen King from third and Sandy Leon from second to make it a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth off reliever Brian Parker.

Delmarva cut into the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 3-1.

Omar Casamayor and Justin Dalles each singed to start the inning and with two outs T.J.Baxter laid down a bunt that he beat out but pitcher Paul Demny threw the ball away, allowing Casamayor to come across.

The ‘Birds won it with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, all with two outs.

Demny quickly retired the first two batters in the frame before King’s throw from third was wild to keep Delmarva alive and allow Mikey Planeta to reach. Garabez Rosa then singled up the middle to put runners on first and second before a wild pitch moved the runners up a station. Baxter then doubled to right-center field.

Another wild pitch moved him to third and King committed his second miscue of the inning , bobbling Gary Helmick’s grounder as the second baseman beat out the play at first to give Delmarva the win.
David Walters (2-1) earned the win for the Shorebirds, pitching the seventh, while Demny (6-7) went 6.2 innings in a losing effort. He gave up six hits and four runs.

Baxter led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a runs and two RBI.

Delmarva took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first of the second game. Helmick walked with one gone in the frame and Ty Kelly tripled passed an outstretched center fielder Perez’s glove for the lead. Kieron Pope then followed with an RBI single to left to extended the advantage off Suns’ hurler Graham Hicks.

Hagerstown battled back to tie the game at 2-2, on three straight hits with one out.

The Suns put the game away in the seventh with four runs off Moreland and reliever Will Startup, as Brett Newsome, Adrian Sanchez, Adrian Nieto and Mills Rogers each came across.

Luis Garcia (2-3) won with two innings of relief for the Suns and Moreland (7-7) took the loss for the Birds.

The Shorebirds and Suns close the series Friday at 7:05 p.m. Delmarva will send left-hander Nick Haughian (5-4, 3.90) to the mound to oppose Hagerstown lefty Paul Applebee (5-6, 3.50).