Power Blank 'Birds in Five Rainy Innings

SALISBURY, MD - On a rainy Saturday night on the Eastern Shore, the West Virginia Power shut out the Delmarva Shorebirds 6-0 in five innings at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.
Luis Escobar (10-7) earned the abbreviated complete-game win, tossing five scoreless innings and giving up just one hit while walking one and striking out eight. His SAL-leading 168 strikeouts broke the Power's (38-30, 68-60) single-season strikeout record; current Pirate starter Tyler Glasnow fanned 164 in the 2013 season.
Max MacNabb (0-1) took the loss for the Shorebirds (29-38, 58-77), allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits in four innings.
The Power struck early and often, scoring three runs in each of the first two innings. Adrian Valerio led off the game with a sharp grounder to third that Collin Woody couldn't handle. Clark Eagan then laid down a bunt single to set the table, and Albert Baur laced a double to the right field corner, scoring Valerio. Hunter Owen hit a sac fly to center to plate Eagan, and Baur came in on an RBI groundout by Henrry Rosario to make it 3-0.
Kevin Mahala led off the second with an infield hit and moved to second on a Victor Fernandez sac bunt. Garret Brown drew a walk to put two men on, and Valerio blasted a three-run homer down the left field line, his 11th of the season, to put the Power up 6-0.
The Shorebirds' best chance to score came in the bottom of the fourth. Preston Palmeiro and Woody drew two-out walks to bring Gerrion Grim to bat. Grim rolled a single through the hole on the right side. Ryan Nagle picked it up in right field and rifled to third to throw out Woody. The out occurred before Palmeiro crossed the plate and West Virginia escaped with the shutout in tact.
Escobar retired Delmarva 1-2-3 in the fifth to make the game official. Umpires called for the tarp moments after Tanner Kirk struck out to end the inning, and the game was called 32 minutes after the initial delay.
Grim had the only hit of the night for the Shorebirds, who were one-hit for the first time this season.

Valerio finished 1-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored.
The Shorebirds and Power play the penultimate game of the regular season on Sunday evening. At press time, neither team has announced a starting pitcher. First pitch is 5:05 p.m. with gates opening at 4:00. The first 500 fans 12 and under through the gates on Sunday will receive a Zach Britton emoji t-shirt, courtesy of Maryland Excels. It's also the final Perdue Strike Out Hunger Sunday, where two canned food items lead to a $3 Upper Reserved ticket. Kids will be able to run the bases after the game, presented by Chili's. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports AM 960 and the MiLB First Pitch App begins at 4:50 with Will DeBoer on the call.