STAMPONE LIFTS ‘BIRDS TO 5-4 WIN IN GAME ONE

T.R. Keating Tosses Two Scoreless to Earn Win

SALISBURY, Md. – The Delmarva Shorebirds topped the Kannapolis Intimidators, 5-4, at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium on Monday night.

With the game tied, 4-4, in the bottom of the eighth, third baseman Ty Kelly scored the eventual winning run on a sacrifice fly. Kelly doubled to the wall in right center to put the go-ahead run at second before a fly to left from Levi Carolus moved Kelly to third. Tyler Stampone, just off the disabled list, lined a pitch to right scoring Kelly. Stampone played in his first Shorebirds game since June 27.

T.R. Keating (2-1) pitched the final two innings to pick up the win for the Shorebirds (58-75). He retired all six batters he faced and fanned three. Chase Cooney (0-1) took the loss, going 1.0 inning.

Kannapolis struck for three runs in the top of the first on a bases-clearing double to right-center field by Ian Gac. The inning started with consecutive singles to put runners on first and third by Daniel Wagner and Ryan Lee. Tyler Saladino was hit by a Brent Allar pitch to load the bases and setup the RBI double.

Delmarva erased the deficit in the bottom of the second on three hits. Levi Carolus led off the frame with a single through the left side and Tyler Stampone walked. Austin Rauch then doubled to the gap in left center to plate both runners and cut the lead to one. Rauch has six RBIs in three games played for the Shorebirds.

Three batters later with one out, Mikey Planeta singled up the middle to tie the game.

Rosa connected on a solo homer to left with two out in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-3 lead. It was his fourth of the season and first since July 18.

The Intimidators battled back to tie things in the top of the seventh. Jordan Cheatham walked before advancing to third on a botched double play ball to second. Then, with Juan Silverio up and two outs, Brent Allar uncorked a wild pitch to scored Cheatham from third.

The Shorebirds and Intimidators play game 2 of the series on Tuesday. Delmarva will send right-hander Matt Hobgood (3-7, 4.82) to the mound to oppose Intimidators’ righty Cameron Bayne (12-9, 3.79).

The Shorebirds have seven games remaining in the 2010 season. For tickets and information, call the Shorebirds Box Office at 410-219-3112.