Late Inning Surge Again Sees ‘Birds Fall to FredNats in Series Finale
FREDERICKSBURG, VA – In a near mirror image from the first game of the series, the Delmarva Shorebirds again allowed four homers in the final two frames as they were defeated by the Fredericksburg Nationals 10-2 on Sunday afternoon at Virginia Credit Union Stadium. The loss caps the first sweep
FREDERICKSBURG, VA – In a near mirror image from the first game of the series, the Delmarva Shorebirds again allowed four homers in the final two frames as they were defeated by the Fredericksburg Nationals 10-2 on Sunday afternoon at Virginia Credit Union Stadium.
The loss caps the first sweep that the Shorebirds (22-52, 1-8) have suffered in the six-game series era while the Nationals (41-34, 8-1) picked up their first sweep of the season.
The Shorebirds managed to grab an early lead in the first inning. Luis Valdez singled on the first pitch of the game and Noelberth Romero followed by doubling him to third. Two outs later, Frederick Bencosme singled both home to give the Shorebirds a 2-0 lead.
The Nationals cut the ‘Birds lead in half in the fourth. Yoander Rivero tripled to start the inning and then scored an out later on a Leandro Emiliani sacrifice fly.
The Nationals jumped ahead for good in the seventh. Andry Arias smacked a two-run homer to vault Fredericksburg ahead before Viandel Pena launched a solo shot to make it 4-2.
Six more came in for the Nationals in the eighth. Leandro Emiliani started the frame with a solo homer before JT Arruda and TJ White each laced back-to-back RBI doubles. Pena capped the inning with his second homer of the game, a three-run shot, bringing the score to its final line of 10-2.
Marlon Perez (2-2) pitched a scoreless seventh for the Nationals, striking out three, to secure the win.
Ryan Long (2-4) suffered the loss for the Shorebirds out of the bullpen, allowing four runs in 4.1 innings on four hits and four walks, striking out one.
The Shorebirds now return home to play a special July 4th game against the Salem Red Sox on Monday, kicking off a six-game series which includes an off-day on Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning at 6:20 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.