Hickory, N.C. – Reliever Devin Jones shutdown the Hickory Crawdads (11-4) over the final four innings to lift the Delmarva Shorebirds (4-10) to a 6-4 win on Thursday night at L.P. Frans Stadium. It was the Shorebirds first win over the Crawdads in five tries this season.
The Crawdads tallied runs in the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead. In the first, Drew Robinson hit a two out double off the base of the right-center field wall to give the Crawdads a 1-0 lead. In the second, Rougned Odor singled home Jhonny Gomez.
The Shorebirds tied the game in the fourth inning. Connor Narron drew a two out walk. Then, Michael Ohlman followed with a two run home run over the high right field wall to tie the game.
After the Shorebirds squandered a chance to take the lead in the top of the fifth, the Crawdads took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Jorge Alfaro singled. Then, Chris Grayson walked. Jhonny Gomez followed with a double down the left field line to put the Crawdads in front 4-2.
The Shorebirds responded with three runs on one hit in the sixth inning. Narron hit a leadoff single and Ohlman drew a walk. Crawdads starter Victor Payano was removed from the game and Arlett Mavare entered. Wynston Sawyer walked to load the bases. Then, Narron scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 4-3. Mychal Givens hit a chopper to first and Trevor Adams threw low to the plate, allowing both Ohlman and Sawyer to score to give the Shorebirds a 5-4 lead.
The ‘Birds added an insurance run in the eighth inning. Givens hit a two out single into center field. Glynn Davis lined a single into left field and Sammie Starr was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Then, Crawdads reliever Santo Perez was called for a balk to force in Givens.
Miguel Chalas earned his seventh win of the season over five innings.
The Shorebirds and Crawdads play game two of the series on Friday, June 6 at 7:00pm.
