Yermin Mercedes Launches Three Homers in Comeback Win

SALISBURY, MD - Yermin Mercedes clubbed three home runs and Gerrion Grim crushed a go-ahead 3-run shot in the bottom of the eighth to snap Delmarva's six game losing streak with a 8-6 win over Kannapolis on Saturday night.

There are certain players who perform at such a high level that they may be a primary reason for attending a game for a casual fan. Yermin Mercedes is that player for the Shorebirds. The league's leading hitter finished the night 4-for-4 with three home runs and a single. He was left in the on deck circle when Delmarva made it's final out in the bottom of the eighth. Mercedes raised his average to .354 on the evening.

Delmarva (54-44, 12-17) trailed 6-3 after six and one half innings. Until Saturday night, a three run deficit had been too much for the Shorebirds to overcome all season. But Saturday night would be different. Mercedes homered in the first and fourth innings and mashed his third of the night in the seventh to bring Delmarva within one run.

In the bottom of the eighth, Gerrion Grim destroyed his third bomb of the season - a three run blast - to give the Shorebirds a 8-6 lead. Grim's home run had an exit velocity of 107 miles per hour and traveled an estimated 421 feet as it cleared both walls in left field.

The Shorebirds and Intimidators (38-60, 14-14) used nine pitchers in a lengthy duel. Jay Flaa (4-0) earned the win by working 0.2 innings to finish the top of the eighth, while Christian Turnipseed hurled a scoreless ninth to earn his 14th save of the season.

The Shorebirds host the Kannapolis Intimidators in the second game of the series on Sunday night at 5:05 pm. Brendan Gulick will have the play-by-play live 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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