Delmarva Unable to Overcome Early Deficit
Shorebirds Late Comeback Effort Falls Short Delmarva Unable to Overcome Early Deficit SALISBURY, MD: The Delmarva Shorebirds (4-4) dropped their third consecutive game to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (4-3) on Saturday night by a score of 9-6. It was another quick start for the visiting Cannon Ballers as they registered
Shorebirds Late Comeback Effort Falls Short
Delmarva Unable to Overcome Early Deficit
*SALISBURY, MD: *The Delmarva Shorebirds (4-4) dropped their third consecutive game to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (4-3) on Saturday night by a score of 9-6.
It was another quick start for the visiting Cannon Ballers as they registered a first-inning run on an RBI single by Drake Logan to score Jordan Sprinkle, making it 1-0 after an inning.
The lead for them would grow in the next frame as they added four runs on two-run hits by Caberea Weaver and Jordan Sprinkle to up the lead to 5-0.
The offense for Kannapolis would continue to roll in the third on a home run by Luis Pineda, and RBI doubles by Weaver & Sprinkle to quickly make it a 9-0 advantage for the Cannon Ballers.
But the Shorebirds would attempt to fight their way back in the fourth. With two outs and the bases loaded, Adam Crampton dropped a base hit into right field, scoring Trendon Craig and Creed Willems to trim the deficit to 9-2.
The score would stay at 9-2 thanks to a strong night from the Shorebirds bullpen as Hugo Beltran, Alejandro Mendez, and Reese Sharp combined for 6.1 innings allowing just 4 hits and 8 strikeouts while allowing no runs to keep the door open for Delmarva.
The 'Birds would make their move in the bottom of the eighth as Creed Willems made it a 9-3 game after an RBI double to score Samuel Basallo. The next batter, Stiven Acevedo, singled home Trendon Craig to cut the Kannapolis lead to 9-4. Elio Prado kept the line moving with an RBI single to left to score Creed Willems. Adam Crampton finished the inning with a sacrifice fly to bring in Acevedo to get Delmarva within striking distance at 9-6 as the game moved to the ninth.
After Reese Sharp navigated around some early trouble in the top half of the inning, the Shorebirds put two runners aboard via walks to bring the tying run to the plate with one out. But Zach Cable retired Trendon Craig on a ground ball to second base and then struck out Creed Willems to end the game as Kannapolis held on to win 9-6.
Tyler Schweitzer (1-0) earned the win as the starter for the Cannon Ballers with Juan De Los Santos (0-2) taking the loss for Delmarva, Zach Cable (1) was awarded the save.
The bottom of the order produced for the Shorebirds in the near-comeback effort, led by Adam Crampton who drove in three runs for the second time this season, matching his career-high. Stiven Acevedo continued his excellent week with three more knocks and an RBI as he continues his four-game streak with multiple hits. Creed Willems collected two more hits with a double while also driving home his team-best tenth run of the season.
Delmarva will now look to salvage a series split on Sunday afternoon with Bradley Brehmer taking the mound for the 'Birds versus Peyton Pallette for the Cannon Ballers. First pitch for the finale is at 2:05 p.m.