Deuces were certainly wild on Monday evening in Charleston as five separate frames where 2-runs scored were the deciding factor. Using three two-run innings of their own, the Delmarva Shorebirds staked themselves to a 6-2 lead, before giving up two in the ninth and hanging on for the 6-4 victory. The win was aided by a pair of two-run homers, and Alex Wells pitched six solid innings for his third win of the season.

Delmarva took the lead against Freicer Perez in the top of the first. Ryan McKenna started out the game by drawing a walk and, two batters later, Chris Clare homered over the left-center field fence for his first homer of the year.

In the bottom of the second, the RiverDogs would use the long ball to tie the score. Angel Aguilar reached on an error to start the inning and two batters later Isiah Gilliam homered to nearly the same spot as Clare, his second homer of the year.

The game was tied but it would not be so for long. In the top of the third, Chris Shaw drew a one-out walk, and Gerrion Grim followed with his fourth homer of the year, a shot that cleared the wall near the same spot as the previous two home runs.

From there both pitching staffs settled down. Perez was done after three innings, and Raynel Espinal came on and pitched four shutout innings, allowing just 1-hit while striking out 3. Alex Wells (3-1) pitched six solid innings, allowing 6-hits, 2-runs, 1-earned, while striking out 2. Steven Klimek then pitched two perfect innings of relief, striking out three.

David Sosebee had come on for Charleston in the eighth and pitched well, but Delmarva tagged him for two runs in the ninth. Preston Palmeiro walked to start the inning. Two batters later, A pickoff attempt by Donny Sands went wild, allowing Palmeiro to reach second. He scored when Alejandro Juvier laced a double to left field, and Juvier came home on a single by McKenna to make it 6-2.

Up by four entering the ninth, the Shorebirds turned to closer Jake Bray, but he would struggle. Aguilar greeted the reliever with a double, but Bray retired the next two batters. The game looked all but over, but Oswaldo Cabrera kept it alive by doubling to right field to bring home Aguilar. Brandon Wagner followed with a base hit to score Cabrera, and when Ben Ruta singled the tying run was suddenly at first base. However, Bray got Estevan Florial to line out to end the game and the Delmarva Shorebirds were the 6-4 victors.

Both Chris Clare and Gerrion Grim finished 1-4 with a run, homer and 2-RBI. Alejandro Juvier was 2-4 with a run and an RBI. Angel Aguilar was 2-4 with 2-runs and a double for the Charleston RiverDogs.

The Charleston RiverDogs are off tomorrow before heading to Hickory to take on the Crawdads for the first time this season.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier