BlueClaws take series finale over Shorebirds Six-run fifth inning propels Lakewood to win over Delmarva

The Delmarva Shorebirds dropped their series finale with Lakewood, 6-2, in front of a sold-out crowd at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium Friday night.

The game was delayed just seconds after the first pitch, when Delmarva shortstop Jared Breen collided with a concrete wall down the left field line. Emergency medical services would attend to Breen for minutes before being taken to the hospital by ambulance.

When the game resumed, it would be Delmarva striking first, Yermin Mercedes would provide the game’s first run, scoring off a Steve Wilkerson sac fly. Things got quiet offensively until the top of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Herlis Rodriguez sent a shot down the first base line, Shorebirds 1B Riley Palmer mishandled the ball, allowing Lakewood’s first run. Damek Tomscha then lined an RBI single to left field, putting the BlueClaws up 2-1. A SAC fly would extend their lead to 3-1 before Jiandido Tromp blasted a 3-run home run, yards over the left field fence and out of the park. Yermen Mercedes would blast a solo home run in the seventh inning, cutting Lakewood’s lead to 6-2, they would take the final by the same score.

The Shorebirds will now travel on their first road trip of the second half, beginning with an Independence Day showdown with the West Virginia Power. Brian Gonzalez will start for Delmarva, who finished 6-3 in their first homestand in the second half. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. in Charleston, WV.