Resilient Shorebirds Hang On For 5-4 Win

Delmarva Earns Series Win Over Lexington

By Steve Uhlamnn

May 6, 2016

LEXINGTON, KY -- What started off as a quiet getaway night contest between the Delmarva Shorebirds and Lexington Legends exploded into a wild back-and-forth affair that ended with the 'Birds picking up a big 5-4 win at Whitaker Bank Ballpark on Friday.

Delmarva was held hitless for the first five innings of the game by Lexington starter Corey Ray. Shorebirds pitcher Ofelky Peralta kept pace, as he allowed just one run on three hits in five innings while striking out three. The lone blemish on what was another solid start for the young right-hander was when he uncorked a wild pitch in the fourth that scored the first run of the day. Peralta's ERA for the season now sits at 2.42.

The Shorebirds' breakthrough finally came in the sixth when Alejandro Juvier reached on an error to lead off the frame. Steve Laurino then came through with an RBI double that was the Shorebirds' first hit of the night and tied the score at 1-1. After Drew Turbin walked and Ademar Rifaela flew out, Ryan Mountcastle came up with a big knock when he clubbed his fourth double of the season to score two more runs and give the 'Birds a 3-1 lead.

Lexington struck right back in the bottom half of the inning and tied the game on an error by Gerrion Grim and a double by Travis Maezes.

It didn't take long for an answer by the Shorebirds, as the bottom of the order came through again in the seventh. Laurino scored Natanael Delgado on an infield single and would later score on a Turbin double to increase the lead to 5-3.

The Legends would get one more run back off of Patrick Baker in the bottom of the seventh on a Samir Duenez single, but Christian Turnipseed slammed the door shut with two scoreless innings to earn his fifth save.

Delmarva now hits the road for the second half of its road trip against the Asheville Tourists. Saturday's series opener at McCormick Field is set for 6:05 p.m. Brendan Gulick will have the call on Fox Sports 960 AM as Francisco Jimenez (4-2, 4.22 ERA) takes the mound for the Shorebirds.