MYRTLE BEACH S.C. - On Saturday afternoon at Coastal Federal Field zeroes lit up the scoreboard until the bottom of the 7th inning when the Pelicans struck before the lightning did. Myrtle Beach manufactured the lone run of the rain-shortened ballgame thanks to an RBI ground out courtesy of 2B J.C. Holt ahead of a thunderstorm, which halted play in the bottom of the 8th. The tarp crew did their best to get in the rest of the contest, but Mother Nature didn't cooperate and the Pelicans walked away with victory, 1-0. The bottom of the 7th would be the only inning that saw any offense on Saturday afternoon. After C Steve Pyzik led off with a single to right field Willie James entered as a pinch runner. James advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt laid down by CF Matt Young, and moved to third on a wild pitch. With the infield playing in, Holt laced a hard hit grounder to the Blue Rocks SS Jed Lowrie, who looked James back to third, but elected to throw over to first. James broke for home when Lowrie released the ball, and dove across the plate just ahead of the throw from 1B Scott White, giving the Pelicans all that the offense that they would need and a 1-0 win over the Rocks.
Starting pitcher Matt Harrison tossed five innings of scoreless baseball and gave up just four hits, while walking two and fanning five in the no-decision. Reliever Arthur Santos (W, 1-0) earned the victory after hurling three shutout innings in which he allowed two hits, walked none, and whiffed one. Wilmington starter Gary Galvez lasted 4.2 innings and did not allow a run on eight hits. He walked two and struck out one. Reliever Ryan Schroyer (L, 0-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up one run on two Myrtle Beach hits in 2.1 innings of work.
For Myrtle Beach offensively 3B Van Pope extended his early season hitting streak to three straight games with a 2-3 performance. Pyzik also went 2-3 in his first game this season. CF Matt Young went 1-3, to extend his hitting streak to three games.
Myrtle Beach improves to 2-1 with their second consecutive victory over the Blue Rocks, while Wilmington drops to 1-2.
On Sunday afternoon the Pelicans and Blue Rocks will square off in a 2:02 pm tilt at Coastal Federal Field. RHP Luis Atilano will start for the Pelicans. He'll be opposed by Wilmington's LHP Andrew Dobies. For tickets please call 843-918-6000, or stop by the Pelicans box office located just off 21st Ave. N in Myrtle Beach.
Fans can also purchase tickets online at www.myrtlebeachpelicans.com. Fans purchasing online tickets for games in April will receive a free Pelicans hat (while supplies last).
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