'Birds Bats Come Alive in 11-4 Win

Charleston, WV - The Delmarva Shorebirds continued their hot streak with an 11-4 win over the West Virginia Power. The Shorebirds (22-19) used a pair of five-run innings to a series opening victory in Charleston. Delmarva has now won 9 of its last 11 games.

Luis Gonzalez made his first start as a Shorebird, pitching effectively wild. The left-hander did not allow a hit, but he issued four walks. Gonzalez struck out five batters, but his high pitch count limited him to four scoreless innings.

The Shorebirds scored five runs in the third inning to grab control of the game. After a hit by pitch and walk, Delmarva put two aboard for Mike Yastrzemski. The Shorebirds outfielder hammered a deep drive to right-center for his fourth home run of the year, putting Delmarva up 3-0. The Shorebirds scored twice more in the third with two singles, a walk and a costly error by Wyatt Mathison at third base.

After Gonzalez departed, Williams Louico struggled through the fifth inning. The first two batters knocked hits off Louico, the first hits for West Virginia on the evening. The Power scored on an RBI groundout and RBI infield single. Louico then loaded the bases with a walk and hit by pitch. The Shorebirds reliever successfully escaped the inning by striking out Erich Weiss.

Chance Sisco skied a solo home run down the right field line leading off the sixth inning. The moonshot, Sisco's first home run of the year, made it 6-2 Shorebirds. Henry Hirsch threw the next pitch behind Gregory Lorenzo, and Hirsch was immediately ejected by the home plate umpire. Power manager Michael Ryan had already been ejected for arguing a call on the bases in the third inning.

Going to the ninth inning, Delmarva was firmly in control, but they broke game wide open. The Shorebirds scored five runs in the ninth for good measure. Trey Mancini racked up two RBIs on a bases loaded single. Later with the bases still loaded, Sisco forced in a run with a walk and Lorenzo tapped an infield single up the third base line. Castagnini lined an RBI single to right-center to cap the big inning.

David Richardson closed out the victory for Delmarva, though he did allow a solo home run in the ninth to Elvis Escobar. Jon Keller (2-0) earned the win with three innings in relief, allowing one run on two hits. Justin Topa took the loss, managing just 2 2/3 innings in the start for West Virginia.

The Shorebirds and Power continue their four-game series on Sunday afternoon. Delmarva will go for their fourth consecutive win with Hunter Harvey (2-2, 1.38) facing West Virginia righty Dovydas Neverauskas (2-1, 4.94). First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 pm at Appalachian Power Park.