‘Birds Late Comeback Bid Stopped Just Short by Red Sox

SALEM, VA – A seven-run deficit proved too steep for the Delmarva Shorebirds to climb out of Saturday night in a 9-6 loss to the Salem Red Sox on Saturday night at Carilion Clinic Field.

The loss was the third straight for the Shorebirds (20-41) who have now lost two consecutive series to the Red Sox (32-30).

Salem got the scoring starting in the second inning. Niko Kavadas walked and then went to third on a dropped pop-up and ensuing throwing error. Kavadas then scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0.

Stiven Acevedo tied the game in the third with a solo blast leading off the inning, his first of the season.

Two homers in the bottom of the third for the Red Sox, a Nathan Hickey solo homer and Niko Kavadas two-run shot gave Salem the lead again at 4-1.

The Red Sox extended their advantage with one run in the fifth on a Kavadas RBI single and then added three more in the seventh on a Tyler Miller RBI single and Darel Belen two-run double to make it 8-1.

The Shorebirds started to claw their way back in the eight. Mishael Deson walked to start the inning and was sent to third on a Heston Kjerstad double. Isaac De León then drove in Deson with a groundout to make it 8-2. Frederick Bencosme then singled to put runners on the corners before Ryan Higgins ripped a single to center that ended up scoring both runners after a fielding error in center, making it 8-4.

Hickey hit his second homer of the game, another solo shot, in the bottom of the fifth to pad Salem’s lead.

The Shorebirds made things interesting in the ninth with a Kjerstad two-run double, but ultimately fell short, losing 9-6.

Tyler Uberstine (4-3) collected the win out of the bullpen for Salem, going 4.2 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk, striking out five.

Edgar Portes (0-1) suffered the loss for Delmarva, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks, striking out two.

The Shorebirds wrap up their series with the Red Sox on Sunday, June 19. Juan De Los Santos (2-6, 4.35) is slated to go for the Shorebirds while Salem counters with Wikelman Gonzalez (2-2, 4.33. First pitch from Carilion Clinic Field is slated for 5:05 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning at 4:50 p.m. on theshorebirds.com 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.