SALISBURY, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds managed just five singles against Felix Paulino and the Lakewood BlueClaws, falling 2-0 on Saturday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.Paulino (3-9) had his best outing of the season for the BlueClaws (22-27, 62-57), scattering four hits over seven scoreless innings, walking two, and
SALISBURY, MD - The Delmarva Shorebirds managed just five singles against Felix Paulino and the Lakewood BlueClaws, falling 2-0 on Saturday night at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
Paulino (3-9) had his best outing of the season for the BlueClaws (22-27, 62-57), scattering four hits over seven scoreless innings, walking two, and striking out 10. Travis Seabrooke (3-7) took a tough loss for the Shorebirds (21-27, 50-66), allowing two runs on five hits in five innings while walking three and striking out three. Addison Russ earned his first save with a scoreless ninth to secure Lakewood's 20th team shutout of the season, far and away the most in the SAL.
Lakewood's breakthrough came in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Raul Rivas worked out a full count walk. Jesus Alestre smashed the next pitch to the corner in right. The throw to the plate got there at the same time as Rivas, but catcher Daniel Fajardo couldn't handle the ball, and Rivas slid in on Alestre's RBI double. Daniel Brito then grounded the very next pitch into right for a single, scoring Alestre from third to make it 2-0 BlueClaws.
The little offense Delmarva got on the night came in the second and third innings. The Shorebirds got men on the corners with two outs in back-to-back frames, but Tanner Kirk and Collin Woody respectively struck out to end the threats. Paulino settled in to retire 11 Shorebirds in a row before a Frank Crinella single in the seventh, but Milton Ramos grounded into a double play to get Paulino's final two outs of the night.
Jake Kelzer provided a bridge to Russ with a scoreless eighth, and Russ worked around a leadoff walk to ice it.
Fajardo finished 2-for-3 at the plate, while Preston Palmeiro, Crinella, and Ramos had the other three Shorebird hits.
Alestre led the way at the plate for the BlueClaws, going 1-for-2 with a double, run, RBI, and walk. Brito finished 1-for-4 with an RBI, while Rivas notched a single, walk, and run.
Francisco Jimenez and Tyler Erwin each worked two no-hit innings out of the bullpen to keep it close for the 'Birds.
Double plays were readily available on the night as the teams combined to turn two each. Ramos started both of the twin killers for Delmarva, a 6-4-3 with Tanner Kirk and Palmeiro in the fifth and a 6-3 in the ninth.
The Shorebirds wrap up their seven-game homestand with the finale against the BlueClaws on Sunday evening. Matthias Dietz (2-8, 4.89) is on the bump for Delmarva against Lakewood mainstay Adonis Medina (4-7, 3.14). First pitch is 5:05 p.m. with gates opening at 4:00. The first 500 kids 12 and under at Perdue Stadium will receive a Sherman emoji t-shirt courtsey of Maryland EXCELS. The Shorebirds will also host those participating in Maryland 529 Summer Reading Program. Usual fare of Perdue Strike Out Hunger Sunday and Chili's Kids Run the Bases will also be in order. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports AM 960 and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 4:50 p.m. with Will DeBoer on the call.
