Delmarva Pitching Shuts Down Hickory in Seventh Straight Win

HICKORY, NC - Cristian Alvarado is pitching like an ace. The Venezuelan-born right-hander gave the Shorebirds another phenomenal outing as he struck out seven over six shutout innings on just 74 pitches, catapulting the 'Birds to a 4-1 win over Hickory on Friday night at L.P. Frans Stadium.

Despite the decisive win, the Shorebirds Northern Division title hopes took a big hit. Hagerstown swept their double-header with Greenville. Even though Delmarva (40-26) has won eight games in a row and is the hottest team in the league since the calendar flipped to June, the Shorebirds have only one scenario left in which they can win the division. Delmarva must sweep the remaining three games from Hickory (37-30) AND Hagerstown must lose their last two games to Greenville in order for the Shorebirds to be crowned first half champions.

Friday night started with a bang. With two outs and DJ Stewart at first base, Yermin Mercedes took a walk after a great battle with Wes Benjamin (2-3). That allowed the league's home run king to step to the plate with an early opportunity to take a lead. Alex Murphy got a fastball on the inner half and crushed it over the left-center field fence for a three-run blast and Delmarva raced ahead early.

The only other Shorebirds run of the night came against Joe Palumbo to lead off the sixth. Mercedes launched a tape-measure shot deep into the Northern Carolina night for his seventh trip around the bags this season.

Cristian Alvarado (5-4) only needed one run. He sliced his way through Hickory's order with little trouble after he stranded two singles in the first inning. At one point, he retired nine in a row.

Hickory's lone run scored on Jose Almonte's two out single to center field in the bottom of the seventh, but the run was unearned against Patrick Baker. Baker's failed pickoff attempt allowed Ti'Quan Forbes to reach safely at second base with two outs in the inning and Sherman Lacrus grounded out to end the frame.

With nine more frames in which Delmarva didn't allow an earned run, the Shorebirds season ERA falls to 2.98 as a team through 66 games. They have racked up 584 strikeouts in 585.1 innings. The team record for lowest ERA in a season in 2.68 from the 1996 ball club.

With their playoff hopes on life support, the Shorebirds continue the series on Saturday night at 5:00 pm with a double-header. RHP Francisco Jimenez (5-6, 5.46) takes the hill in the first game, while Mike Costello (0-0, 0.00) makes his second career appearance for the 'Birds in the second contest. Brendan Gulick will have the broadcast beginning with Shorebirds On-Deck at 4:45 pm on Fox Sports AM 960 and online at theshorebirds.com.

Delmarva Shorebirds
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The Delmarva Shorebirds are the Class "A" Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Shorebirds are owned by 7th Inning Stretch, LLC, the same company that owns the Stockton Ports of the California League and the Everett AquaSox of the Northwest League.

The Shorebirds celebrated their 20th season in 2015, and have entertained nearly five million fans since beginning play at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Md. in 1996. The team has captured South Atlantic League titles in 1997 and 2000 while successfully hosting the South Atlantic League All-Star Game in 1999 and 2011.

For more information on the Shorebirds, call 410-219-3112 or visit theshorebirds.com.

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