Five-Run First Lifts Shorebirds to 8-4 Win

Salisbury, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds (3-1) scored five runs in the first inning en route to an 8-4 win over the Asheville Tourists (1-3) on Sunday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium. With the win, the Shorebirds secured their first series win since early May (May 5-7 over Charleston). 

Both teams used home runs in the first inning. Asheville's catcher Tom Murphy hit a two-run home run to left field to give the Tourists a 2-0 lead. The Shorebirds countered in the bottom of the first. Roderick Bernadina doubled to deep center. After Creede Simpson walked, Nik Balog doubled to the wall in left field to trim the deficit to 2-1. Torsten Boss followed with an RBI single to right field. Then, Joel Hutter hit his first professional home run to left field to put the Shorebirds in front 5-2. 

The Shorebirds added a run in the third inning on a soft infield single to the hole on the left side by Adrian Marin to score Boss.

In the fifth inning, the Shorebirds increased the lead to 7-2. Marin hit a one out double down the left field line. After a single by Gregory Lorenzo, Lucas Herbst singled to score Marin.

The two teams traded runs in the sixth inning. Rosell Herrera singled to open the inning and later scored on a single by Dillon Thomas. In the bottom of the inning, Nik Balog doubled to deep right-center to score Simpson, who led off with his third walk.

Shorebirds starter Mark Blackmar lasted a season long six innings to earn his first win of the season. He allowed eight hits and three earned runs.

Bennett Parry entered in the seventh inning and allowed two hits and one run. Dennis Torres tossed a scoreless ninth inning to close the game. Bernadina threw out Francisco Sosa at the plate to end the game, his second outfield assist of the night. 

The Shorebirds begin a three-game series against the Lakewood BlueClaws on Monday, June 24 at 7:05pm. LHP Josh Hader is the scheduled starter for Delmarva.