Fajardo, 'Birds Edge Out K-Town in Finale

KANNAPOLIS, NC - The Delmarva Shorebirds wrapped up their season-opening road trip on a high note, downing the Kannapolis Intimidators 2-1 on Wednesday morning at Intimidators Stadium.
Tyler Joyner (1-0) earned the win in relief in his debut with the Shorebirds (4-1), tossing 3.1 scoreless four-hit innings while walking one and striking out three. Jonathan Stiever (0-2) took the loss for the Intimidators (3-3), giving up two runs on five hits over four innings with three walks and four strikeouts. Jhon Peluffo finished it off with a scoreless ninth for his first career save.
Just like Tuesday night's game, the teams each traded shots across the bow in the first inning. Robert Neustrom legged out a one-out infield single in the top of the first, then after a walk to Jean Carlos Encarnacion, Adam Hall split the gap in right center for an RBI double to make it 1-0 Delmarva. The Shorebirds would load the bases in the inning but fail to bring another run home.
In the home half of the first, Luis Curbelo laced a one-out double and took third on a wild pitch. After a walk, Bryce Bush lifted a flyball deep enough to right to score Curbelo and tie it at 1-1.
Delmarva had another rally queued up in the fourth. Seamus Curran belted a one-out double, and he advanced to third on a wild pitch soon after. With the infield drawn in, Daniel Fajardo muscled a grounder past short and up the middle for a base hit, chasing home Curran to put the visitors back up 2-1.
Fajardo proved to be the defensive player of the game for the Shorebirds as well, throwing out three baserunners on the day. In the first inning the Venezuelan backstop caught Steele Walker trying to steal second base. In the third, he picked up a would-be wild pitch and threw out Michael Hickman as he tried to advance to second.
Fajardo's finest moment of the afternoon came in the bottom of the eighth. Curbelo drew a two-out walk, and Walker beat out an infield single to put the tying and go-ahead runs on base. On a low and outside 2-0 pitch, Fajardo uncorked down to first base, and Curran slapped the tag on an unsuspecting Walker for an inning-ending pickoff.
Kannapolis wouldn't go away quietly as Amado Nunez walked and Evan Skoug looped a two-out single into right center, advancing the would-be tying run to third base. Peluffo then relaxed and got Logan Sowers to ground out to third to end the game, and the Shorebirds finished off a sweep of the mini two-game series.
Hall led the way at the plate for the Shorebirds, going 2-for-4 with a double, RBI, and stolen base. Curran reached twice with a double and walk and scored the other Delmarva run.
Skoug reached base all four times he came to bat for the Intimidators, going 3-for-3 with a double and a walk. Hickman went 2-for-3 with a double from the nine-hole.
Shorebird starter Hector Guance got things rolling with an effective start. Guance lasted 4.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits while walking two and fanning six on 74 pitches.
Delmarva finished the first week of the regular season as one of two South Atlantic League teams with a sub-2.00 ERA. The Shorebirds ring in at second place with a 1.91 mark, just below first-place Hickory (1.48).
The Shorebirds now head to Arthur W. Perdue Stadium for the 24th home opener in franchise history. Delmarva battles the Lakewood BlueClaws in the first of a four-game series and seven-game homestand on Thursday night. Blaine Knight (0-0, 3.18) is scheduled to start for Delmarva against Lakewood's Dominic Pipkin (0-0, 6.00). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00. Thursday features Opening Night Q105 Fireworks after the game. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App beginning at 6:50 with Will DeBoer on the call.