Harvey's Gem Lifts Delmarva, 3-0 Win

Fifth shutout victory for Shorebirds

By Doug Newton

May 12, 2014

Salisbury, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds rode a spectacular pitching performance from Hunter Harvey for a 3-0 win over the Lakewood BlueClaws. The Shorebirds (18-18) got back to .500 on the season with their fifth shutout victory of the year, allowing just two hits all game.

Hunter Harvey came into tonight reeling from back-to-back losses. The Shorebirds' ace bounced back in impressive fashion with perhaps his best start as a professional. Harvey walked the first batter he faced, and then he proceeded to allow one more baserunner over seven scoreless innings.

Samuel Hiciano scooted a double to the left field corner in the second inning. Harvey did not allow another baserunner, retiring the final 16 batters he faced. The right-hander struck out a career-high ten batters, including a string of six in a row.

The Shorebirds finally got run support with a run in the fifth inning. After leaving the bases loaded in the fourth, Delmarva did not let another opportunity pass. Mike Yastrzemski pulled a single through the right side of the infield to plate Gregory Lorenzo.

With Harvey twirling a gem, Delmarva scored twice more in the seventh. Trey Mancini and Josh Hart each delivered two-out RBI singles to extend the lead to 3-0.

David Richardson pitched a perfect eighth inning for the hold, and Jimmy Yacabonis came on for the ninth to close out the victory. Yacabonis did allow a double to J.P. Crawford, but he kept his scoreless innings streak intact, now at 13 innings without a run all season. The Shorebirds' closer wrapped up his ninth save in as many opportunities, the most in the South Atlantic League.

Hunter Harvey picked up his second professional win, while Drew Anderson fell to 1-3 for Lakewood despite allowing just one run in six innings.

Delmarva will go for the series win over Lakewood on Tuesday morning. The Shorebirds turn to left-hander Steven Brault (3-2, 2.65) against BlueClaws' righty Ranfi Casimiro (1-4, 8.39). First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 am at Perdue Stadium.