Delmarva Stunned Twice in Kannapolis

Antonio Rodriguez Walks Off Twice in One Night

By Brendan Gulick

June 24, 2016

KANNAPOLIS, NC - The first Friday night of the second half proved to be the most forgettable night of the season for Delmarva. After Thursday's game was suspended by rain in the fourth inning, Delmarva completed their game and played Friday's regularly scheduled contest. Kannapolis outfielder Antonio Rodriguez lifted the Intimidators to a pair of walk-off wins, both in extra innings, taking the first two games of the series 3-2 (11 innings) and 1-0 (eight innings).

Delmarva (42-29, 0-2) had a 2-0 lead in game one, thanks to Drew Turbin's RBI double in the top of the seventh inning. But Christian Turnipseed allowed two runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game. Turnipseed didn't factor into the decision, as Elias Pinales (4-1) allowed the game winning run on Rodriguez's RBI double to right-center field in the 11th.

Game two featured some great scoring chances from both teams, but gutsy pitching from Luis Martinez and Cristian Alvarado. Neither pitcher allowed a run and both escaped heart-throbbing jams with runners in scoring position unscathed.

Patrick Baker (2-2) walked the first two hitters in the eighth before getting a strike out and pop out. But Rodriguez delivered for the second time on the night with his single through the middle to cap Kannapolis' (26-46, 2-0) big day. He finished the two games 4-for-8 with two RBI's.

The Shorebirds still have a chance to split the series, beginning tomorrow night at 7:05 pm. Brian Gonzalez (5-3, 2.51) is expected to start for Delmarva. Brendan Gulick will have the broadcast beginning with Shorebirds On-Deck at 6:50 pm on Fox Sports AM 960 and online at theshorebirds.com.

Delmarva Shorebirds
----------------------------
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.

###