Shorebirds' Winning Streak Snapped in Lakewood

Late comeback bid falls short, BlueClaws win 7-5

By Doug Newton

September 3, 2015

LAKEWOOD, N.J. -- The Delmarva Shorebirds fell short in their comeback bid in Thursday's series opener against the Lakewood BlueClaws. Delmarva scored four runs in the eighth, and brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but Lakewood finished off the 7-5 final.

Lakewood built a 7-1 lead with a bunch of extra base hits in the middle innings. Shorebirds' starter Lucas Long did not allow a hit in the first two innings, but Jiandido Tromp led off the third inning with a solo home run. Scott Kingery lined an RBI double to score Drew Stankiewicz on a close play at the plate for a 2-0 lead after three innings.

Cam Kneeland cut the lead in half briefly with an RBI single in the top of the fourth. Lakewood kept their offensive spurt going when Kyle Martin lifted a two-run home run in the home half. In the fifth, Deivi Grullon sliced a two-run double off reliever Caleb Kellogg for a 6-1 BlueClaws lead. It grew to 7-1 when Martin punched an RBI single off Williams Louico in the seventh.

The Shorebirds came storming back in the eighth inning. BlueClaws' starter Will Morris went 7.2 innings, exiting after one run came across in the rally on an RBI single by Ademar Rifaela. Manaure Martinez entered from the bullpen and promptly gave up a single to Uxa. Kneeland blasted a sky-high three-run home run to get Delmarva back into the game at 7-5. Kneeland's four RBIs extended his team lead in the category, now at 61 for the season.

In the ninth, Delmarva brought the tying run to the plate when T.J. Olesczuk doubled off closer Matt Hockenberry. Riley Palmer pinch-hit for Daniel Franco, but he flied out to left field to end the game. Morris improved to a perfect 7-0 with the win, and Hockenberry picked up his 19th save for Lakewood. Long dropped to 2-4 with the loss for Delmarva.

After having their five-game winning streak snapped, Delmarva will try to even the series on Friday night. Right-hander Dariel Delgado (7-3, 3.23) will start game two opposite right-hander Tyler Viza (5-9, 3.28) for Lakewood. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, N.J.