Hagerstown Holds On, 6-5

Salisbury, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds fell short in their comeback bid on Saturday night with a 6-5 loss to the Hagerstown Suns. Down 5-0, Delmarva (54-45, 16-14) pulled within one run with late rallies, but Hagerstown held on to even the series at one game apiece.

The Suns jumped out to a 5-0 lead on Janser Severino making his home debut for Delmarva. Rafael Bautista smashed a two-run home run to start the scoring. Hagerstown scored three more runs in the fifth. Isaac Ballou drew a bases loaded walk, and Spencer Kieboom roped a two-run single in the next at-bat.

Meanwhile, Lucas Giolito cruised through the first five innings. The Nationals' top prospect matched a career-high with nine strikeouts. Delmarva finally got to Giolito in the sixth inning. The flamethrower walked Anthony Caronia to start the frame. Josh Hart then singled, one of his three base hits on the night. Delmarva got on the board with an RBI fielder's choice from Gregory Lorenzo. The Shorebirds made it 5-2 with a roller up the middle by Creede Simpson that kicked past the second baseman Brennan Middleton.

Delmarva inched closer with a big fly in the eighth inning. Simpson hooked a home run down the left field line, his second with Delmarva. The two-run blast cut the Suns' lead down to one run. Conor Bierfeldt belted a double to left-center that just stayed in the ballpark. Delmarva left the tying run on second base as Cody Davis struck out Anthony Vega.

Carlos Lopez delivered a key insurance run with a solo home run to lead off the ninth inning. Dariel Delgado made his Shorebirds' debut in relief with the lone mistake on the Lopez blast.

The Shorebirds mustered another comeback attempt, but they fell short again. Caronia floated a double down the left field line, and then Hart singled up the middle. With Hart representing the tying run, Lorenzo flied out and Drew Dosch struck out.

Giolito improved to 5-2 with the win, while Davis picked up his second save. Severino fell to 1-1 with the loss in his first start at Perdue Stadium.

Delmarva and Hagerstown will face off in game three on Sunday evening. Left-hander Mitch Horacek (5-8, 3.42) will start for the Shorebirds against Suns' righty Wirkin Estevez (0-0, 4.50). First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 pm at Perdue Stadium.