CarL1 Potomac Nationals

Pelicans Game Notes

Published on May 31, 2008 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Potomac Nationals News Release


Myrtle Beach Pelicans (34-20) vs. Frederick Keys (28-26)

Saturday, May 31 -- 7:05 PM

BB&T Coastal Field -- Myrtle Beach, SC

Game #55, Home Game #23

TODAY'S GAME AT A GLANCE: Having won eight of their last nine games, the Pelicans enter game two of the series eyeing their fifth straight win over the Keys. Myrtle Beach swept the Keys last weekend at Harry Grove Stadium and currently boast the best record in the Carolina League (34-20) along with a hefty seven-and-a-half game lead over second place Kinston in the Southern Division. Friday's series opening victory started a stretch in which the Pelicans will play 14-of-17 games at BB&T Coastal Field to close the first half.

TODAY'S STARTING PITCHERS: In a meeting of right-handers, Kyle Cofield will take the ball for the Pelicans against Keys' ace Jake Arrietta. Cofield will be making his third start against the Keys and his second in a row. Arrietta has not faced Myrtle Beach thus far this season, his spot in the rotation missed in the first two series between the two teams.

Cofield: Has pitched ably around trouble in his last three starts, and has not permitted an earned run in 15 2/3 innings. That includes his last outing in which he held the Keys to an unearned run over five innings on five hits. The righty has not factored in the decision in his last two starts, with the birds splitting the two outings. When he has struggled, his problems have been self-induced. Cofield currently leads the Carolina League with 34 walks, including a season-high six against Frederick on April 11th.

The Gadsden, Alabama native was selected in the eighth round of the 2005 June free agent draft. In his first three professional seasons prior to '08, he compiled a 6-11 record with a 4.76 ERA, splitting time between relieving and starting.

Arrietta: The #7 rated prospect in the Orioles' organization according to Baseball America, Arrietta is enjoying a tremendous professional debut. He currently is the ERA leader in the Carolina League at a miniscule 1.78. He also leads the league in strikeouts with 69. He showed mortality in his last start, which turned into his first loss of the campaign, permitting three earned runs to Kinston over six innings. Prior to that outing however, the 22-year old had turned in back-to-back masterpieces, blanking Winston-Salem for eight innings and Salem for seven.

Drafted out of Texas Christian in the fifth round of the 2007 draft, Arrietta signed for 1.1 million dollars just ahead of the August deadline. The Texan turned in a star performance for Team USA in 2006, posting a 4-0 record and 0.27 ERA.

THE MAGIC IS IN THE NUMBER: Dusting off math skills thought long gone, the Pelicans media relations department has calculated that the Pelicans magic number to end the Carolina League's longest playoff drought with a first half title is 10. Myrtle Beach presently has 16 games remaining in the first half, with a 7 1/2 game lead over second place Kinston.

ARMED AND DANGEROUS: The Pelicans currently boast the most home runs of any team in the Carolina League (53). That total includes 11 for shortstop Brandon Hicks, which places him second in the loop. Four Pelicans have hit two home runs in a game thus far this year: Travis Jones belted two on Tuesday; Hicks accomplished the feat on Monday; Ernesto Mejia clubbed two on 4/24 @ Frederick and Tyler Flowers was the first to go deep twice 4/20 @ Kinston. Birds went back-to-back for the first time in Friday's series opener as Jones and Flowers both went deep off of Frederick's Jake Renshaw. The home run total is made more impressive when factoring in that the birds play in pitcher-friendly BB&T Coastal Field.

BRUCE DAL CANTON UPDATE: Pelicans legendary Pitching Coach Bruce Dal Canton has left the team to attend to medical issues. His timetable for return is uncertain at this point and in the interim, Braves Roving Pitching Instructor Mike Alvarez will assume the duties.

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Carolina League Stories from May 31, 2008


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