‘Birds Rue Missed Chances in Loss to FredNats

SALISBURY, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds failed to capitalize on late opportunities as they fell 7-6 to the Fredericksburg Nationals on Tuesday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

Coupled with Salem’s win, the Shorebirds (61-48) find themselves six games back of the postseason with 11 games to go after the loss to the Nationals (38-71).

The FredNats got to work early with back-to-back singles to begin the game, putting runners at the corners. One out later, a groundout from Branden Boissierre plated the game’s first run.

Delmarva tied it in the second. Coby Mayo walked with one away and then went to second on a wild pitch. After a Jacob Teter double, Donta’ Williams drove in Mayo with a sacrifice fly.

Viandel Pena began the third for the FredNats with a lost-in-the-lights double and eventually came in to score after two groundouts.

Leandro Emiliani smacked a solo homer, his fourth of the season, to extend the FredNats lead to 3-1 in the fourth.

Delmarva cut it back to one run in the bottom of the third with three straight singles culminating in an RBI knock for Teter.

With two on and one out in the sixth, Jeremy De La Rosa spanked a triple into right-center to plate two before scoring himself when the relay throw to third wound up out of play, putting the FredNats up 6-2.

Delmarva put men at second and third with two out in the sixth before Connor Pavolony bounced into a fielder’s choice that saw him reach safely at first, plating a run. With runners now at the corners, Darell Hernaiz reached on an error, scoring another run, and keeping men at first and third. After Hernaiz stole second, a dropped third strike wild pitch scored Pavolony with Hernaiz going to third. After a walk loaded the bases, another wild pitch plated Hernaiz to tie the game at 6-6.

The FredNats broke the deadlock in the sixth. Jacob Young singled with two away and then swiped second. After a Darren Baker infield single, Young scored from third on a wild pitch to give the FredNats the lead and eventually the win 7-6.

Tyler Schoff (1-0) earned the win in relief for Fredericksburg with two scoreless frames, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out two.

Rickey Ramirez (2-1) was saddled with the loss for Delmarva. He allowed one run on two hits in two innings, striking out two.

The Shorebirds stranded 11 runners on base, going 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position. It was the second straight game Delmarva stranded double-digits on the basepaths.

The Shorebirds will try to rebound on Wednesday, September 8 against the FredNats. Ty Blach (0-0, 0.00) is handed the ball for Delmarva against Rodney Theophile (3-10, 5.64) for the FredNats. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. with pregame coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. on MiLB.TV and Fox Sports 960 AM with Sam Jellinek on the call.