Dueling Shutouts in Split Twinbill

SALISBURY, Md. -- The Delmarva Shorebirds split Sunday's doubleheader with the Greensboro Grasshoppers to record their second straight series win. Both teams notched shutouts with Greensboro winning in extras, 1-0 in Game 1, and Delmarva answering with a 3-0 victory in Game 2.

The opener on Sunday afternoon was the textbook definition of a pitchers' duel. The two squads combined for seven hits in Game 1, all singles. Both starters, Brian Gonzalez for Delmarva and Michael Mader for Greensboro, hurled five shutout innings. Gonzalez set a new career-high with eight strikeouts in a no-decision.

Game 1 rolled into extras with a scoreless tie continuing until the ninth inning. A throwing error by Guillermo Salas allowed the leadoff man Austen Smith to reach. Smith advanced to third on a wild pitch, and then scored as Steve Wilkerson could not get off a clean throw on a grounder to second base. 

Josh Hodges finished off Greensboro's Game 1 win with three straight strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth. Garrett Cortright suffered the loss for Delmarva, despite only allowing one unearned run.

In Game 2, Delmarva exacted their revenge with a shutout of their own. Bennett Parry tossed five shutout innings in the start, allowing just three singles. Derrick Bleeker retired all six batters he faced to record his second save.

The Shorebirds produced just enough offense for a 3-0 win. Conor Bierfeldt lined an RBI single in the first, set up by a pair of walks. In the fifth inning, the Shorebirds tacked on a few insurance runs on a two-run triple by Steve Wilkerson. Isael Soto laid out to attempt a diving catch in centerfield, but the ball skipped by him for Wilkerson's second triple of the season.

The doubleheader split ensured Delmarva of another series win, their fourth in the first five series of the year. The Shorebirds have won all three series played at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium so far this season. At 10-7, Delmarva currently sits in third place behind Hickory and West Virginia.

Delmarva starts their Southern Division road swing with a three-game series in Savannah, beginning on Tuesday. Right-hander Matthew Grimes (0-0, 6.75) will start for Delmarva against the Sand Gnats' right-hander Scarlyn Reyes (0-2, 3.60). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm at Historic Grayson Stadium.