Scrapple Sandwiches Braves in Opener

SALISBURY, MD - The Delmarva Scrapple served up a crispy 4-2 win over the Rome Braves with two big runs in the eighth on Saturday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
Looking to break open a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth, the Scrapple (26-27, 61-59) went to the bench to lead things off. Will Robertson came in as a pinch hitter and singled to center. After a strikeout, Trevor Craport grounded into a fielder's choice to take Robertson's place at first. Cadyn Grenier came up next and cracked a triple to left field that took a hopped off the corner wall away from Jefrey Ramos, allowing Craport to score from first. Jean Carrillo followed with an RBI single past third, putting the Scrapple up 4-2.
Diogenes Almengo came out of the bullpen for the ninth and sizzled the Braves (23-30, 65-59) in a 1-2-3 inning that featured several high-90s fastballs, capping the night with a 97 mph fastball to strike out Derian Cruz.
Max Knutson (2-0) blew a save opportunity but picked up a win, giving up none of his own runs on a hit over 1.2 innings. Kelvin Rodriguez (3-4) took the loss for the Braves, giving up a pair of runs in his two innings. Almengo burned down Rome in the ninth for his first save with Delmarva.
Jhon Peluffo took a no-decision despite a Quality Start for Delmarva, allowing two runs on four hits over 6.1 innings while walking one and striking out a season-high seven. Rome's Freddy Tarnok also paired a QS with an ND, allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits over six innings, walking one and fanning two.
After both teams exchanged three scoreless, the Scrapple unpackaged a pair of runs in the fourth. Jean Carlos Encarnacion pelted a one-out single to left, and two batters later Grenier punched a flyball into shallow right center that ended up in no-man's land between a trio of Braves. Encarnacion stopped at third, but Justin Dean's throw home sailed over everyone, allowing Encarnacion to score the opening run and Grenier to take third Carrillo followed with an RBI single to right center, scoring Grenier to make it a 2-0 Scrapple lead.
Rome battled their way back into the game in the seventh against a tiring Peluffo. Drew Lugbauer and Trey Harris both tacked on back-to-back one-out singles, and Peluffo walked Brendan Venter to load the bases. Knutson took over from there and walked Marcos Almonte to force in one run, and Cruz followed with a sharp grounder third that Delmarva could only swing one out on, plating Harris to tie it at 2-2. Delmarva went quietly in the seventh before breaking out in the eighth.
Grenier notched his third multi-hit game in his last four to lead the Scrapple, going 2-for-4 with the go-ahead triple, two runs, and an RBI. Carrillo finished 3-for-4 with a pair of two-out RBIs, his first runs driven in since July 11. Branden Becker reached all four times he came to the plate, going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks.
Trey Harris went 2-for-4 and scored a run for the Braves in the loss.
The Scrapple revert back to being the Shorebirds for their Sunday evening showdown against the Braves. Delmarva will have Cameron Bishop (9-5, 2.85) on the hill against reigning SAL Pitcher of the Week Alan Rangel (4-6, 4.22) for Rome. First pitch is set for 5:05 p.m. with gates opening at 4:00. Sunday is Float for the Fund presented by Georgeo's Italian Ice & Mug Root Beer, featuring All You Can Enjoy root beer floats. It's also the Summer Reading Program game for students in Maryland, presented by Eastern Shore McDonald's, and a Kids Club Game presented by Maryland Excels. With it being the final Sunday home game of the season, it's also the last chance for Perdue Strike Out Hunger Sunday and postgame Kids Run the Bases presented by Chili's. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 4:50 with Will DeBoer and Drew Williams on the call.