'Birds Back in the Win Column, 6-3

Go-ahead two-run double in seventh by Alex Murphy

By Doug Newton

April 21, 2015

HAGERSTOWN, Md. -- The Delmarva Shorebirds snapped a five-game losing skid with a 6-3 comeback victory, sparked by another big night from Alex Murphy. Delmarva evened their series in Hagerstown with their first road win of the season, improving to 6-6 on the season.

Both teams came out quickly with scores on both sides in the first inning. Cam Kneeland doubled on a flyball to right field, aided by the sun glaring in the sightline of Alec Keller. Conor Bierfeldt drove home Kneeland on a two-out RBI single.

Hagerstown answered immediately with two runs in the bottom half of the first. Raudy Read lined a two-out RBI single, and Dale Carey later scored on a wild pitch as two walks came back to hurt Shorebirds' starter Brian Gonzalez.

The Suns built a 3-1 lead with a sacrifice fly by Grant DeBruin in the fourth inning. Delmarva cut the deficit back down to one run in the fifth inning. Guillermo Salas led off the frame with a double down the right field line, his first hit as a Shorebird. Alex Murphy laced a two-out RBI single, pulling the Shorebirds within a single tally.

The Shorebirds completed the comeback with two big hits in the seventh inning. With two on, Murphy delivered again, hooking a double down the left field line for a 4-3 lead. Jomar Reyes blasted his first home run with Delmarva, a two-run shot to center to make it a 6-3 advantage.

The Delmarva bullpen held strong even when tested in the ninth inning. Zeke McGranahan pitched 2 2/3 scoreless in relief, but ran into trouble trying to record the final out. McGranahan issued back-to-back walks, prompting Ryan Minor to bring out Donnie Hart for the save. With the tying run at the plate, Hart struck out Brennan Middleton to secure the victory.

Garrett Cortright earned the win with a scoreless inning of work, his first victory of the year. Brett Mooneyham took the loss in his season debut for the Suns. With the strikeout in the ninth, Hart recorded his third save of the season already.

Having ending their losing streak, Delmarva now goes for a series win in the Wednesday morning finale. Right-hander Matthew Grimes (0-0, 9.72) will start for the Shorebirds against Suns' right-hander Luis Reyes (0-1, 5.59). First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 am at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown, Md.