Darick Hall tied the BlueClaws single-season home run record in their Sunday loss at Delmarva. ---
Darick Hall tied the BlueClaws single-season home run record in their Sunday loss at Delmarva.
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SALISBURY, MD - The BlueClaws mounted a late rally, and were inches away from a game-tying home run from Luke Williams in the ninth inning on Sunday, but Williams ball just went foul and Delmarva held on for a 6-4 win over the BlueClaws at Perdue Stadium.
Delmarva (22-27/51-66) and the BlueClaws (22-28/62-58) split their four-game series in Salisbury with the BlueClaws finishing their road trip at 2-5.
Trailing 6-1, the BlueClaws got back in the game with three runs in the eighth inning. Colby Fitch's RBI double made it a 6-2 Shorebirds lead, before Darick Hall hit his 24th home run of the year to cut the lead to 6-4.
Hall's home run, his 24th of the season, ties the BlueClaws single-season franchise record set by Jose Pujols last year. Hall, a 14th round pick last year from Dallas Baptist, has 83 RBIs, eight away from Randy Ruiz's team record set in 2004. The left-handed slugger leads the league in both power categories.
Jake Bray got the last four outs for the Shorebirds, earning his 14th save. Williams' near miss came with one out in the ninth but went foul by inches. Bray struck out Williams and got Jesus Alastre to ground out to end the game.
Delmarva opened the scoring in the first inning when Cole Billingsley scored from third base on a throwing error on catcher Gregori Rivero as Rivero attempted to throw out Ryan McKenna stealing second base. In the second, with a runner at first and one out, Adonis Medina threw three wild pitches with Tanner Kirk batting to allow Milton Ramos to come all the way around and score.
Lakewood got on the board in the third inning on an RBI single from Daniel Brito.
However, the Shorebirds added three more in the third inning, one on an RI single by Preston Palmeiro, one on an error by Jesus Alastre, and one on another Medina wild pitch.
Medina (3-8) came out after three innings, allowing five runs, two earned, with six strikeouts. Shorebirds starter Matthias Dietz (3-8) gave up one run over six innings, allowing just three hits and striking out six.
BlueClaws reliever Casey Brown gave up one run in a career-high four innings of relief for Lakewood. Gregori Rivero had two hits in the loss for the BlueClaws.
The BlueClaws head home and open a seven-game homestand on Tuesday with the first of three games against Kannapolis. LHP Bailey Falter (6-6) starts the series opener for the BlueClaws.
- BlueClaws -
