Dogs Cough Up Late Lead, Spoiling Mauricio's Six Shutout and a Series Sweep

SALISBURY, Md. - A Shorebirds eighth inning rally spoiled a sterling performance by RiverDogs starter Alex Mauricio, who threw six scoreless innings for the second start in a row in Delmarva, as the RiverDogs came up a game short of a three-game sweep with a 4-2 defeat on Friday night at Perdue Stadium.
Mauricio extended his scoreless innings streak against the Shorebirds (60-59, 25-27) to 12 in a row. The Norfolk State product had turned in six shutout in Salisbury only two weeks prior. The 21-year-old continued his turnaround with the Dogs (56-64, 23-29), marking his third straight outing allowing two runs or fewer, lowering his ERA to 5.81 after being roughed up in his first three outings after a call up from Staten Island. Despite the 12 scoreless frames, Mauricio finished with just a pair of no-decisions against the 'Birds lineup this year.
Trailing 2-0 headed to the bottom of the eighth, former Braves farmhand Jean Carlos Encarnacion gave Delmarva their first lead of the night with one swing of the bat, a three-run shot to deep left field. It was the second homer of the season for the 20-year-old since coming over to the Orioles in the Kevin Gausman trade and the 12^th overall on the year between Delmarva and Rome. Orioles No. 10 prospect Cadyn Grenier tacked onto the lead with a deep fly off the glove of Carlos Vidal three batters later, ruled an error.
Dalton Higgins (5-5) yielded the go-ahead blast, the Texas native's second straight losing decision with a home run allowed. The Dallas Baptist product had kept the ball in the ballpark over his first 45-plus innings to start the season with Charleston.
The RiverDogs offense got to DL Hall for a pair of early runs. Carlos Vidal and Dermis Garcia each drilled doubles to get the Holy City on the board in the first. Garcia finished the three-game series going 4-for-12 with four RBI. Third baseman Welfrin Mateo connected for a two-out single that plated Charleston's only other run in the second.
Left-hander Nick Vespi (5-5) scattered just a pair of hits over innings six to eight and righty Timothy Naughton stranded the tying run at second for his fifth save as part of a scoreless ninth.
After the six scoreless frames from Mauricio, Charleston starters have produced a 1.78 ERA over the last 14 games, a stretch where the Dogs are just 6-8. With the win in their final meeting against Charleston, the O's affiliate clinched the season series, 7-6.

Upcoming
The RiverDogs cast off for the second-leg of their road trip, opening a four-game set with the West Virginia Power on Saturday night at 6:05 in Charleston North. Dogs 18-year-old right-hander Roansy Contreras (0-2, 3.22) will toe the slab; the Dominican Republic teenager is currently ranked as the Yankees' No. 19 prospect by MLB.com. West Virginia will throw righty Sergio Cubilete (4-5, 5.22). The Pirates prospect last faced Charleston on April 17 at The Joe when he was knocked out of the game by a comebacker off his head without recording an out.
Saturday's contest can be tuned into on "The Big Talker" WTMA 1250 AM in the tri-county area and with online streaming audio via the RiverDogs' TuneIn radio station. Pregame coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. with "Saturday Dog Talk."
RiverDogs single-game tickets, including options to the Riley Park Club, are available for the remainder of the 2018 campaign, the club's 25^th season as the RiverDogs and their "175^th season in dog years." Ticket information can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com.
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