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Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Pelicans Split Twinbill With Nationals

April 27, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, SC - Ryan Strausborger's flashes of power helped the Pelicans win the first game of their doubleheader, but it wasn't enough in game two as the Potomac Nationals salvaged a split to keep the Birds out of first place.

The Pelicans pulled off a comeback win in the opener. Potomac starter Mitchell Clegg (1-1) baffled the hitters through the first four and two-thirds innings. With two down in the fifth, Jared Bolden singled, then Strausborger belted his first home run of the year to put the Birds up 2-1. Ryan was not done as he gave Myrtle Beach some insurance with a three-run blast the very next inning to cap a four-run sixth.

Potomac plated a pair in the seventh against Andrew Doyle, but Trevor Hurley got the final two outs to pick up his third save.

Barret Loux (2-1) was terrific in five innings. The big Texan allowed one run on five hits, walking three and striking out four to record the win.

Kennil Gomez filled in admirably in a nightcap spot start. He continually escaped jams, allowing three runs in three and one-third innings.

The Birds trailed 1-0 in the third until Andres James reached on an error and Bolden tripled him home to tie the score. Strausborger cracked yet another home run, his third in four at bats to give Myrtle Beach a 3-1 lead. Potomac answered in the next half-inning with two runs off Gomez and reliever Chad Bell to even things up.

The score held at 3-3 until the top of the seventh when J.P. Ramirez singled off Pelicans righty Johan Yan. After a sacrifice bunt and a flyout to advanced the runner to third, Jose Lozada laid down a perfect safety squeeze bunt to bring home the go-ahead run.

In their last chance at bat, the Birds got the tying run aboard when Leury Garcia singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Jared Hoying bunted him to second and Mike Olt flew out to left, after which Garcia tagged up to third, barely beating the tag from Stephen King. The comeback fell just short though, as Potomac closer Pat Lehman struck out Jared Prince to salvage a split and lock down his fourth save.

The newly arrived Joe Testa (1-0) worked a scoreless sixth to get the win in his first game as a National. Yan (1-1) was strong in three innings of relief for the Pelicans, but was tagged with the loss after allowing the run in the seventh.

After Salem split two games Wednesday in Kinston, a Myrtle Beach sweep would've put the Birds in first in the Carolina League's Southern Division. But with the game two loss, the Pelicans remain a half-game behind the Red Sox.

The four-game set concludes on Thursday night with Pelicans lefty Robbie Ross opposing Potomac right-hander Trevor Holder. First pitch at BB&T Coastal Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The Birds will then host the Frederick Keys for a three-game weekend series Friday through Sunday.

Tickets for all Pelicans home games are available at the BB&T Coastal Field box office, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com, and by phone at 843-918-6000 or 877-918-TIXX.

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Carolina League Stories from April 27, 2011


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