Multiple Big Innings Down ‘Birds in Fredericksburg; Kjerstad Turns Hitting Streak Up To 11

SALISBURY, MD – Amidst a flurry of offense, the Shorebirds got a four-hit game from Luis Valdez and Heston Kjerstad extended his hitting streak to 11 games, but it wasn’t enough in a 15-4 loss for the Fredericksburg Nationals on Wednesday night at Virginia Credit Union Stadium.

The Shorebirds (22-48) finished with the same number of hits (13) as the Nationals (37-34) but went 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position and stranded a season-high 15 runners on.

The FredNats jumped out early, scoring three times in each of the second, third, and fourth innings to take a commanding 9-0 lead. Branden Boissiere was responsible for four of those runs with an RBI single and three-run double, while TJ White drove in one with a double and Jacob Young tacked on another with a triple.

The Shorebirds started to claw back in the fifth. Elio Prado ripped an RBI double and Noelberth Romero drove in a second run with a fielder’s choice. Frederick Bencosme then capped the rally with an RBI single.

Delmarva got one more back in the sixth when Prado walked with the bases loaded in the sixth, but that was the last run the ‘Birds pushed across.

Fredericksburg saw the first eight hitters all reach safely to begin the seventh, plating six runs in the process, capitalizing on two Shorebirds errors and three walks, to take command of the game and win 15-4.

Brendan Collins (3-1) earned the win in relief for the FredNats, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings while allowing three hits and striking out two.

Conor Grady (3-5) takes the loss for the Shorebirds after allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks.

Luis Valdez singled four times to finish 4-for-5 for the Shorebirds while a fifth inning single saw Heston Kjerstad extend his hitting streak to 11.

The Shorebirds continue their six-game set against the Nationals on Thursday, June 30 at Virginia Credit Union Stadium. Deivy Cruz (0-0, 3.00) is due up on the mound for the Shorebirds while the FredNats turn to Bryan Caceres (4-3, 4.75). First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning at 6:50 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.