Season High Five Errors Plague Shorebirds in Loss to FredNats as Kjerstad Extends Hitting Streak to 14 Games

FREDERICKSBURG, VA – The Delmarva Shorebirds saw five costly errors turn a potentially close game into a blow out as they fell 12-5 to the Fredericksburg Nationals on Saturday night at Virginia Credit Union Stadium.

The Shorebirds (22-51, 1-7) nearly climbed all the way out of a 6-0 hole, but the Nationals (40-34, 7-1) capitalized on Delmarva’s miscues to wrestle back control of the ballgame.

Fredericksburg started the scoring straight away in the first inning. Geraldi Diaz brought in a run with a sacrifice fly before Leandro Emiliani scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0.

TJ White reached on a one-out error for the FredNats in the second and then came around to score after the Nationals loaded the bases and Emiliani walked to force in White.

Three more came in for the FredNats in the third. White drew a bases loaded walk of his own before Yoander Rivero ripped a two-run single to put Delmarva in a quick 6-0 deficit.

The Shorebirds nearly rallied all the way back in the fifth. Heston Kjerstad started the rally with one out when he was hit by a pitch. Noelberth Romero then walked before Trendon Craig reached on an infield single to load the bases. Isaac De León then launched a two-run double before Frederick Bencosme then singled in another run, putting men at first and third. A passed ball allowed De León to score while Bencosme went to second where, after a popup, he scored on a Roberto Martinez double. Michael Mantecón then singled to left, but Martinez was thrown out at the plate trying to tie the game.

With the Shorebirds having cut the contest to a 6-5 game, Fredericksburg capitalized on the fifth error of the game by Delmarva to re-take a commanding lead. Yoander Rivero singled with one away before Jacob Young reached on fielder’s choice with an error at second, allowing Rivero to reach safely. After a strikeout, Emiliani laced a two-out double and Steven Williams ripped a two-run homer, his first of the year, to put the FredNats ahead 10-5.

Fredericksburg tacked on two more in the eighth thanks to back-to-back doubles from JT Arruda and TJ White with White scoring later in the inning after a passed ball and wild pitch.

Andrew Alvarez (4-4) picked up the win for the FredNats out of the bullpen with two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk, while striking out two.

Darlin Alcantara (0-1) started for Delmarva and was handed the loss. Alcantara went two-plus frames, allowing six runs (three earned) on three hits and five walks.

Despite the loss, Kjerstad extended his hitting streak out to 14 games with a 2-for-3 performance, reaching base four times total with a walk and hit by pitch. Kjerstad has two hits in three straight games and now has 10 multi-hit games in his first 17 games played with the Shorebirds.

The Shorebirds wrap their six-game set against the Nationals on Sunday, July 3 at Virginia Credit Union Stadium. Juan De Los Santos (2-7, 4.66) is due up on the mound for the Shorebirds while the FredNats turn to Jackson Rutledge (2-5, 6.35). First pitch is slated for 1:35 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning at 1:20 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.