'Dogs Blow By 'Birds Down Stretch

SALISBURY, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds started strong but faded fast as the Charleston RiverDogs busted the game open late to win 11-4 on Sunday evening at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
Dalton Lehnen (3-1) collected the win for the RiverDogs (15-22, 52-55). Out of the bullpen, Lehnen fired 3.1 innings, allowing just one run on a hit and a walk while striking out six. Ryan Wilson (5-4) was dealt the loss for the Shorebirds (73-33, 25-12). Wilson went five-plus innings and was tagged for five runs on four hits and four walks while striking out three.
The Shorebirds put the first tally on the scoreboard in the second. Jaylen Ferguson reached on an error to begin the inning and Ryne Ogren followed with a base hit. Jean Carlos Encarnacion then walked to load the bases. After a strikeout, Ben Breazeale drew a walk to force home a run and give Delmarva a 1-0 lead.
After going silently through the first three frames, Charleston pounced for two runs in the fourth. Canaan Smith worked a one-out walk and Mickey Gasper followed him up by blasting a two-run homer to left, giving the RiverDogs a 2-1 advantage.
A two-run fifth pushed the Shorebirds back in front. Adam Hall lashed a single to open the frame and Johnny Rizer forced him to second with a walk. Ferguson proceeded to line a single to left, scoring Hall and pushing Rizer to third. Ogren then blooped a base hit to center to score Rizer as Delmarva retook the lead 3-2.
Charleston busted the game up in the sixth. Oswald Peraza ripped a single to start the rally and Josh Stowers followed with another base hit. Canaan Smith worked a walk to load the bases and knock Wilson out of the game for the Shorebirds. Ruben Garcia came in and walked Gasper on four pitches, forcing home a run and tying the game at 3-3. Eric Wagaman kept the line moving with an RBI single, giving the RiverDogs a 4-3 lead. After a flyout, Frederick Cuevas bounced out to shortstop, bringing home another run. Ryan Lidge capped off the inning by poking an RBI single to left, making it 6-3 RiverDogs.
The Shorebirds got one back in the bottom of the sixth. Zach Watson floated a ball into shallow right that saw the second baseman and right fielder collide, allowing Watson to race around and score on an inside-the-park homer, his second home run of the homestand, making it 6-4 Charleston.
The RiverDogs pulled away late to put the game to bed. In the seventh, Peraza singled to start the frame and moved to third on a Stowers double. Smith brought them both around to score on a ringing double to left, putting Charleston ahead 8-4. Then in the eighth with the basses loaded, a passed ball allowed Lidge to score from third and a batter later Smith poked a single to left to plate two, giving Charleston their winning margin of 11-4.
Hall racked up his 35th multi-hit game of the season for the Shorebirds, going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Ogren also posted a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI, walk, and stolen base.
The combination of Peraza, Stowers, and Smith at the top of the Charleston order powered their offense as they each finished multiple hits and multiple runs scored, going 7-for-13 with two doubles, four RBIs, and seven runs scored. In addition to his two-run homer, Gasper tacked on another RBI, going 1-for-3 with three driven in, two runs, and two walks.
Harold Cortijo started for Charleston but didn't factor into the decision. Cortijo went four plus innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and six walks while striking out four.
The loss drops the Shorebirds to 7-8 on Sundays this season, including 2-7 at home. Delmarva has a winning record on every other day of the week, going a combined 66-25 on Monday through Saturday.
The Shorebirds wrap up their homestand on Monday night against the RiverDogs. Hector Guance (8-3, 3.55) draws the start for Delmarva while Charleston turns to Jhony Brito (3-3, 3.20). First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00. Monday at Perdue Stadium is 47 ABC $3 Buck Monday presented by Wicomico Heating & Air Conditioning. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 6:50 with Will DeBoer and Sam Jellinek on the call.