Shorebirds Handle Woodpeckers to Close Series

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Delmarva Shorebirds (7-14, 34-54) proved too much to handle on Sunday afternoon as the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (9-11, 45-41) fell to an 8-3 loss in the series finale.

Following a pair of scoreless frames to open the contest, the Woodpeckers plated the game's first run in the bottom of the third. Alberto Hernandez cashed in a Jason Schiavone leadoff double to put Fayetteville on top 1-0.

Right away, though, the Shorebirds formed a response. They tallied three runs in the top of the fourth inning, storming ahead 3-1.

However, the Woodpeckers worked quickly to cut right into their newfound deficit. Hector Salas drove Cam Fisher home after a walk and a stolen base opened the inning, pulling Fayetteville back within one.

Delmarva restored their two-run edge on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth, but once again, Fayetteville answered back and canceled it out. Fisher scampered home on a wild pitch himself, keeping the Woodpecker deficit at one at 4-3.

At that point, the Shorebirds thwarted the Fayetteville momentum and pulled away in the top of the seventh. A four-run inning broke the game open, and they did not allow another tally the rest of the way to notch the victory and split the six-game series.

The Woodpeckers receive four days off along with the rest of Minor League Baseball due to the MLB All-Star break, and they return to action with a nine-game road trip starting on Friday, July 18th at Carilion Clinic Field against the Salem Red Sox. They return to Segra Stadium on July 29th to open a six-game series versus the Hickory Crawdads in their first matchup as Carolina League opponents.