Shorebirds' Trio Combine for Shutout, 2-0

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Delmarva Shorebirds won the series opener against the Charleston RiverDogs with dominant pitching on Wednesday night. Delmarva (15-11, 48-46) spun their eighth shutout of the season with a 2-0 victory.

Delmarva took an early lead with a two-out rally in the first inning. After starter Jordan Foley retired the first two batters of the game, Cam Kneeland drew a walk. Yermin Mercedes knocked an RBI double into the left-center gap, and Elier Leyva followed with an RBI single.

Josh Walker took the hill with a 2-0 lead, which ended up being all the run support the Shorebirds' starter needed. Walker was perfect through five innings, retiring fifteen straight batters to start the night. The right-hander walked the first batter of the sixth inning, and then allowed a single to break up the no-hitter. Griff Gordon attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Mercedes threw out the lead runner at third base.

Stefan Crichton entered the game with two runners on. The reliever induced back-to-back groundouts to finish the sixth, stranding two runners in scoring position. Crichton then pitched two more scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. Garrett Cortright finished off the game in the ninth, completing a combined three-hit shutout for Delmarva.

Walker improved to 5-2 on the season with 5.1 scoreless innings. Shorebirds starters have not allowed more than three runs in an outing since July 10th. Crichton picked up his second hold, while Cortright earned his ninth save. For the Shorebirds, Wednesday's 2-0 win was their eighth shutout of the season, and their first since July 1st. Delmarva has now won eight of their last ten games.

The Shorebirds go for a series win on Thursday night in Charleston. Left-hander Brian Gonzalez (4-6, 5.78) will start for Delmarva opposite RiverDogs' right-hander Joey Maher (1-4, 2.73). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.