BALDWIN HOMER SINKS SHOREBIRDS IN OPENER
Catcher’s walk-off lifts Drive to 3-2 win on cold night in Greenville

GREENVILLE, SC - Roldani Baldwin hit a walk-off solo home run to left center field, propelling the Greenville Drive to a 3-2 win over the Delmarva Shorebirds on Opening Day of the 2017 minor league season at Fluor Field at the West End.

Leading off with the game tied 2-2, Baldwin connected on a 2-1 pitch from Shorebirds (0-1) reliever Jake Bray, launching it to deep left center field where it bounced over the top of the wall for a game-ending round-tripper. The catcher rounded the bases to the sound of 4,871 frigid hometown fans in jubilation, and Baldwin’s teammates were there to meet him at the plate in celebration.

Stephen Nogosek (1-0) earned the win in relief for the Drive (1-0), allowing one run on two hits in two innings. Bray (0-1) took the loss for Delmarva.

The Shorebirds wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the new season. Cole Billingsley legged a one-out double down the left field line, then two batters later Chris Shaw mashed a double that one-hopped the fence in dead center. Billingsley scored easily and Delmarva had its first lead of the season, 1-0.

After several chances, the Drive finally got back into it in the bottom of the fifth. Carlos Tovar led off with a double, then after a flyout Lorenzo Cedrola reached on an error at short, allowing Tovar to advance to third base. With Santiago Espinal at bat, Greenville attempted a double steal, but the Delmarva infield read it all the way and threw Tovar out at the plate.

Greenville would not be denied, though, as Espinal laced a game-tying double to bring around Cedrola.

The home side took its first lead in the bottom of the seventh when Ryan Scott smacked a solo home run to right off Delmarva’s James Teague to make it 2-1. The Drive had a chance to score more in the inning, but Tovar was thrown out again trying to steal third base, killing a rally that ended with an Espinal lineout.

Delmarva had a chance for a big inning in the top of the eighth as Cole Billingsley and Preston Palmeiro singled and Shaw walked to load the bases with nobody out. Chris Clare followed by grounding into a 4-6-3 double play, bringing home the tying run but nothing more. Jake Ring then struck out, leaving the potential go-ahead run on third.

Bray struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth and Nogosek notched a 1-2-3 top of the ninth, setting the stage for Baldwin’s heroics.

Shaw led the way for the Shorebird offense, going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and the team’s only RBI. Billingsley finished 2-for-4 with a double and both Delmarva runs.

Espinal, Baldwin, and Tovar each had two hits for Greenville.

Neither starter factored into the decision. Delmarva’s Lucas Humpal turned in a quality start in his first Single-A outing, allowing one unearned run on five hits in six innings, walking none and striking out four on 83 pitches. Greenville’s Shaun Anderson lasted 4.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits with two walks and seven punchouts.

The Shorebirds continue their season-opening series with the second of four against the Drive tomorrow night. Lefty Zack Muckinhirn gets the start for Delmarva against Greenville southpaw Darwinzon Hernandez. First pitch from Fluor Field at the West End is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Pregame coverage on Fox Sports AM 960 and the MiLB First Pitch app begins at 6:45 p.m. with Will DeBoer on the call.

Delmarva Shorebirds
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The Delmarva Shorebirds are the Class “A” Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Shorebirds are owned by 7th Inning Stretch, LLC, the same company that owns the Stockton Ports of the California League and the Everett AquaSox of the Northwest League.

The Shorebirds are celebrating their 22nd season in 2017 and have entertained nearly five million fans since beginning play at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Md. in 1996. The team captured South Atlantic League titles in 1997 and 2000 and successfully hosted the South Atlantic League All-Star Game in 1999 and 2011.