Grim Homers To Spark Shorebirds Comeback Win

CHARLESTON, WV - Delmarva used the long ball to take and early lead and got some clutch extra-base hits to take a 4-3 win over the West Virginia Power on Sunday afternoon at Appalachian Power Park. Delmarva took the series three games to one.

Logan Hill opened the scoring for the Power in the bottom of the first with a solo home run to left field. Hill hit his fifth homer of the season but his first since July 31st against Delmarva.

West Virginia (60-59, 25-25) nearly added a run in the bottom of the fourth after Jordan George doubled and Casey Hughston singled on the infield. But Gerrion Grim made a fantastic running grab in the right field bullpen to catch Tyler Filliben's pop up and close the inning with two runners stranded.

Delmarva (62-57, 20-30) finally got on the board in the top of the fifth. With one out, Steve Laurino lined a soft single to right-center field. Then Gerrion Grim smashed a ball that originally appeared to hit off the top of the fence in left-center, but it was ruled a 2-run homer. Grim rounded the bases for his fourth time this season and the Shorebirds grabbed a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the sixth, Delmarva got a couple of good breaks. Ademar Rifaela tripled to right when Jordan George couldn't hang on to a ball as he crashed into the wall. Then Ryan Mountcastle blooped a singled to left field where Alfredo Reyes and Logan Ratledge couldn't hang on as they collided behind shortstop. That scored Rifaela to make it 3-1. Then with two outs, Natanael Delgado doubled home Mountcastle from second base to give the 'Birds a 4-1 lead.

West Virginia mounted a big threat in the bottom of the sixth, but Brian Gonzalez struck out the last two batters to leave the bases loaded. He went six innings on the afternoon with only one run against him. Gonzalez (8-7) fanned six and walked two.

Mike Burke came on for the bottom of the seventh and gave up two runs on three hits. Mitchell Tolman and Logan Hill each drove in 2-out runs to tighten the game. The Shorebirds took a 4-3 lead into the eighth. The Shorebirds opened the inning by reaching on an error and getting hit by a pitch, but they couldn't push a run across. Rifaela and Mountcastle were both stranded in scoring position.

After a leadoff double and strikeout in the eighth against Burke, Ryan Minor went to left-hander Lex Rutledge. Four pitches and two ground balls later, Rutledge got out of the inning to keep the Delmarva lead.

Delmarva tried to add to the lead again in the top of the ninth inning, but stranded runners on the corners with Andujar's strikeout and pop out. But Rutledge locked down the game with his fourth save during a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Delmarva won three of four on the weekend and won the season series with West Virginia 11-8.

The Shorebirds are off on Monday night before opening a three game series with the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Tuesday night in North Carolina. First pitch is set for 7:00 pm. Brendan Gulick will have the broadcast beginning with Shorebirds On-Deck at 6:45 pm on Fox Sports AM 960 and online at theshorebirds.com.

Delmarva Shorebirds
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The Delmarva Shorebirds are the Class "A" Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Shorebirds are owned by 7th Inning Stretch, LLC, the same company that owns the Stockton Ports of the California League and the Everett AquaSox of the Northwest League.

The Shorebirds celebrated their 20th season in 2015, and have entertained nearly five million fans since beginning play at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Md. in 1996. The team has captured South Atlantic League titles in 1997 and 2000 while successfully hosting the South Atlantic League All-Star Game in 1999 and 2011.

For more information on the Shorebirds, call 410-219-3112 or visit theshorebirds.com.

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