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‘Birds Bash Sox in Game One, Bats Fall Silent in Game Two

Westburg mashes grand slam for first career homer in game one
May 9, 2021

SALISBURY, MD - For the second time in four days, the Delmarva Shorebirds and Salem Red Sox split a doubleheader, with the Shorebirds (3-2) taking game one by a final of 11-1 and the Red Sox (2-3) rebounding for a 6-1 win in game two on Saturday at Arthur W.

SALISBURY, MD - For the second time in four days, the Delmarva Shorebirds and Salem Red Sox split a doubleheader, with the Shorebirds (3-2) taking game one by a final of 11-1 and the Red Sox (2-3) rebounding for a 6-1 win in game two on Saturday at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

Game One

Salem opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. Gilberto Jimenez dropped a perfect bunt base hit to start the game and then stole second. After a strikeout, Nick Northcut ripped a single to left to score Jimenez and give the Red Sox an early 1-0 lead.

The Shorebirds tied the game in the bottom of the second. Jordan Westburg started the rally with a leadoff single and then advanced to third on a JD Mundy base knock to right. A Jordan Cannon walk loaded the bases before Dylan Harris knocked home Westburg with a sacrifice fly to center, knotting the game at 1-1.

The game stayed at 1-1 until the bottom of the fourth. Westburg was the catalyst for a rally again, drawing a leadoff walk. Mundy then belted a homer to left center, his first of the year, giving the Shorebirds their first lead of the game, 3-1. After a flyout and a strikeout, Trevor Kehe reignited the rally with a line drive single to left. J.C. Encarncaion followed him up by depositing a ball over the wall in right for another two-run homer, his first of the year. Now a 5-1 game, Delmarva still wasn’t done. Anthony Servideo drew a walk and Darell Hernaiz reached on an error. A walk to Gunnar Henderson then loaded the bases. Up for the second time in the inning, Westburg provided the exclamation point to the inning, belting a grand slam to right, his first of the season, to extend the lead to 9-1.

Hernaiz added on with a two-run homer in the sixth, his first of the year, to officially put the game to bed at 11-1.
Adam Stauffer (1-0) earned the win for the Shorebirds after tossing 2.2 innings of shutout relief. Stauffer allowed just three hits while striking out five.

Jorge Rodriguez (0-1) suffered the loss for Salem. Rodriguez allowed five runs (four earned) on three hits and two walks with one strikeout in 0.2 innings out of the bullpen.

Shane Davis started for Delmarva but did not factor into the decision. Davis worked three innings and allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out four.

Salem’s starter Bradley Blalock also did not factor into the decision. Blalock tossed three innings, giving up one run on two hits and a walk while picking up five strikeouts.

Thanks to his grand slam, Westburg was the star of the show for Delmarva. Westburg finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored along with a homer and four driven in. JD Mundy also had two hits, including a two-run homer.

Wil Dalton and Ceddanne Rafaela paced the way for Salem, each finishing 2-for-3 with Rafaela adding a double.

Game Two

Salem again got on the board first in game two of the twin bill. Stephen Scott began the third inning with a walk before advancing to second on a walk. After a strikeout, Scott was awarded third base after a balk. Northcut then lofted a ball to right, deep enough to allow Scott to trot home and put Salem ahead 1-0.

Delmarva answered right back in the bottom of the third. With one away, Servideo drew a walk and then went first to third on Henderson’s line drive single to right. Harris then scored Servideo with a deep sacrifice fly to center to tie the game at 1-1.

The tie would not last long as Salem plated another run in the top of the fourth. Rafaela legged out an infield single to begin the inning and then swiped second. On a strikeout, Rafaela then stole third. After another strikeout, Jimenez laced a single to right to score Rafaela and restore Salem’s lead at 2-1.

Scott extended the lead to 3-1 for Salem as he blasted a solo homer to right, his first of the year, to lead off the fifth.

In the sixth, Rafaela again kickstarted a Salem rally, leading off the frame with a walk. Rafaela then stole second and advanced to third on an Alex Erro single to left. Another walk to Jake MacKenzie loaded the bases. After a shallow lineout, Rafaela came into score on a Nick Decker groundout to first, putting the Red Sox up 4-1.

Two more runs crossed the plate in the seventh for Salem. Joe Davis and Northcut ripped singles to begin the inning and fielder’s choice at second off the bat of Dalton put runners at first and third with one away. After a shallow fly out, a wild pitch allowed Davis to trot in from third to make it a 5-1 game with Dalton advancing to second on the play. Erro then hit a worm burner to left, plating Dalton to finish the game off at 6-1.

Cody Scroggins (1-1) picked up the win in relief for Salem. Scroggins tossed two scoreless frames out of the bullpen, allowing a hit and two walks while striking out four.

Xavier Moore (0-1) is saddled with the loss for Delmarva. Moore gave up three runs on four hits while walking two and striking out five in relief.

Brandon Walter earned his first save of the season by throwing perfect frames in the eighth and ninth while recording three strikeouts.

Rafaela sparked the Red Sox offense, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored while stealing three bases. Five different players recorded RBIs for Salem while eight of nine hitters collected one base hit.

Servideo scored the only run of the game for Delmarva, going 1-for-2 while drawing two more walks.

The Shorebirds and Red Sox take the field for the series finale on Sunday at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. Zach Peek (0-0, 13.50) goes for the Shorebirds against Aldo Ramirez (0-0, 18.00) for the Red Sox in a rematch of game one of the series. First pitch is set for 2:05 p.m. with pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and MiLB.TV beginning at 1:50 with Sam Jellinek on the call.

ABOUT THE DELMARVA SHOREBIRDS
The Delmarva Shorebirds were founded in 1996 and have been the Class-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles since 1997. The Shorebirds have won two South Atlantic League championships in 1997 and 2000 and were named the MiLB.com Minor League Team of the Year in 2019 after going 90-48 in the regular season. Based in Salisbury, Maryland, the Shorebirds are proud to represent the entire Delmarva Peninsula and have hosted two SAL All-Star Games in 1999 and 2011. The Shorebirds are owned by 7th Inning Stretch, LP, based in Stockton, California headed by Chairman Tom Volpe and President Pat Filippone.