Late Home Run by Acevedo Propels Delmarva to Victory
Shorebirds Take Down Nationals in Series Finale Late Home Run by Acevedo Propels Delmarva to Victory FREDERICKSBURG, VA: The Delmarva Shorebirds (8-6) rallied to defeat the Fredericksburg Nationals (4-10) in the series finale on Sunday afternoon by a score of 8-5. Delmarva scored first in the top of the third
Shorebirds Take Down Nationals in Series Finale
Late Home Run by Acevedo Propels Delmarva to Victory
*FREDERICKSBURG, VA: *The Delmarva Shorebirds (8-6) rallied to defeat the Fredericksburg Nationals (4-10) in the series finale on Sunday afternoon by a score of 8-5.
Delmarva scored first in the top of the third on a balk by Pablo Aldonis as Luis Gonzalez scored on the play to give the Shorebirds an early 1-0 lead.
The Fred Nats got that run back in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI double by Daylen Lile to even the game at one.
Fredericksburg scored one in each of the next two innings as a single by Jonathon Thomas in the infield plated Roismar Quintana in the fourth, followed by an RBI single by Quintana in the fifth that scored Sammy Infante to give the Nationals a 3-1 edge.
The Shorebirds began their comeback effort in the top of the sixth as they quickly tied the game on a two-run triple by Samuel Basallo, Carter Young and Jackson Holliday both scored to make it a 3-3 game. The next batter, Anderson De Los Santos pushed Delmarva in front with an RBI single to right, giving the Shorebirds the lead at 4-3.
The 'Birds added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as a single by Michael Mantecon that was misplayed in the outfield by Robert Hassell III, allowing Luis Gonzalez to score from first base, pushing the Delmarva advantage to 5-3.
But the Nationals would tie the game in the bottom half of the seventh on a two-run homer by Daylen Lile, knotting the game at five apiece.
In the eighth inning, the Shorebirds used late-game heroics from Stiven Acevedo to take the lead for good as he sent his first home run of the season over the wall in left field with two outs to give Delmarva the lead back at 7-5.
They added an extra run in the top of the ninth on an RBI double by Jackson Holliday as he brought home Michael Mantecon all the way home from first base to give the Shorebirds their largest lead at 8-5. They'd go on to win by that score to take four out of five games from the Nationals.
Deivy Cruz (1-0) was the winning pitcher for the Shorebirds in relief with Yaqui Rivera (1) picking up the save as he retired the side in order in the eighth and ninth inning. Miguel Gomez (2-1) took the loss in relief for the Nationals.
Stiven Acevedo provided the biggest hit in the game for the Shorebirds as his two-run homer gave Delmarva a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Samuel Basallo's three-bagger in the sixth was the first of his career and it kept him atop the Carolina League in RBIs with 18. Eight of the nine starters for Delmarva provided at least one hit with Michael Mantecon picking up two in his first start of the season.
The Shorebirds now return home to face the Salem Red Sox for the first of a six-game series starting on Tuesday at 11:05 a.m.