‘Birds Fall in Series Final to Red Sox

*SALISBURY, MD *- The Delmarva Shorebirds fell behind early and never recovered as they dropped their series finale against the Salem Red Sox 10-0 on Sunday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

The win gave the Red Sox (34-26) the series win over the Shorebirds (37-21) as well.

Salem began the game in the first inning with back-to-back singles from Gilberto Jimenez and Matthew Lugo to put runners at the corners. After Lugo stole second on a strikeout, Joe Davis brough Jimenez home from third with the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly.

With one out in the third, Stephen Scott and Davis worked back-to-back walks. Nick Decker then singled to load the bases for Ceddanne Rafaela who flared a single to shallow center to plate another run.

Salem poured it on in the fourth. Luke Bandy walked to open the frame and then stole second. Jimenez then doubled it in to make it 3-0 Red Sox. Lugo followed with a line drive single to put men on the corners. Lugo and Jimenez then executed a double steal, which scored Jimenez, while Lugo advanced to third on the play thanks to a throwing error. After a walk to Scott, Davis bounced into a double play that allowed Lugo to score to make it 5-0 Salem.

The Red Sox coasted the rest of the way, continuing to extend the lead. Jimenez ripped another RBI double in the fifth to make it 6-0, while Bandy pounded a three-run homer in the seventh to make it 9-0. Lugo capped off the game with an RBI single in the ninth to wrap up the contest at 10-0.

The Shorebirds were no-hit through the first six innings, until TT Bowens doubled to lead off the seventh, the only Delmarva hit of the game.

Ryan Fernandez (2-1) picked up the win for Salem with three innings of shutout ball. Fernandez allowed one hit while striking out five.

Zach Peek was tagged with the loss (2-3) after allowing two runs over three frames on five hits and three walks while striking out six.

Jeremy Wu-Yelland started for Salem and tossed four no-hit innings, striking out two and walking two, but did not factor into the decision.

Seven of nine Salem starters collected at least one hit with six picking up multiple knocks. Alex Erro finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored while Jimenez went 3-for-6 with two RBIs and two doubles. The 18 hits for Salem were the most the Shorebirds pitching staff had allowed in a game this season.

After an off-day on Monday, the Shorebirds hit the road to take on the Down East Wood Ducks on Tuesday, July 13. Probables to begin the series have not yet been announced. First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. from Grainger Stadium.

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.