SALISBURY, MD - The Greensboro Grasshoppers followed their blueprint from their last matchup against the Delmarva Shorebirds, sending the home side to a 1-0 loss on Thursday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.Scott Sebald (1-3) earned the win for the Grasshoppers (13-13, 47-48) by the scorekeeper's discretion, pitching a scoreless
SALISBURY, MD - The Greensboro Grasshoppers followed their blueprint from their last matchup against the Delmarva Shorebirds, sending the home side to a 1-0 loss on Thursday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
Scott Sebald (1-3) earned the win for the Grasshoppers (13-13, 47-48) by the scorekeeper's discretion, pitching a scoreless sixth and seventh out of the bullpen. Scott Burke (2-3), returning to the rotation as the Shorebirds (16-11, 51-43) turn to a six-man cycle, endured a tough loss, giving up one run on four hits over five innings in his return to the rotation. Ryan McKay nailed down the shutout with two perfect innings for his first save.
Greensboro's only run came with two outs in the top of the fifth. Marcos Rivera doubled, then Harrison DiNicola followed with a double of his own to chase home Rivera. Those were the only two extra-base hits for either side in the game.
Delmarva's best chances came in the second and sixth innings when the Shorebirds loaded the bases. In the second, Ryan Ripken and Will Robertson laced back-to-back singles, then two batters later Jean Carrillo got hit by a pitch. Kirvin Moesquit grounded out to first, though, and the Shorebirds came away empty-handed.
In the sixth, Cadyn Grenier and Trevor Craport walked, then a botched fielder's choice off the bat of Ripken put runners everywhere. Sebald dug deep, though, striking out Robertson and getting Chris Shaw pop out to short to end the threat. Delmarva wouldn't get another baserunner the rest of the night.
Rivera and DiNicola each had two hits, accounting for the only run and two-thirds of the Grasshoppers' six hits.
Grenier legged out an infield single in the third for Delmarva's third and final hit on the night.
Sean Guenther got the clean sheet going with four innings of three-run ball, walking none and striking out five. Steven Farnworth pitched a scoreless fifth before handing the baton to Sebald, with McKay bringing up the rear.
The result was the second straight Delmarva-Greensboro game that saw the Grasshoppers win 1-0; Greensboro won by the same margin in the teams' finale at First National Bank Field on June 29. The Shorebirds have now been shut out five times in the second half and nine times overall.
The Shorebirds look to rebound against the Grasshoppers on Friday night. Cameron Bishop (8-4, 2.89) gets the start for Delmarva against Greensboro's Colton Hock (9-3, 2.84). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. with gates opening at 6:00. Friday marks a visit from Salisbury native and Weather Channel personality Mike Seidel. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a Mike Seidel bobblehead, presented by Real Hospitality Group, and Mike will be available to sign autographs, take pictures, and interact with fans. It's also Orange Friday and Froggy 99.9 Big Beer Friday, and fans can stick around after the game for Q105 Fireworks. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports 960 AM and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 6:50 with Will DeBoer and Drew Williams on the call.
