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Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Blue Rocks Sneak Past Birds on Late Miscue

August 27, 2015 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AUGUST 27, 2015) - On a series of unusual plays in the top of the eighth inning, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, fell victim to the Wilmington Blue Rocks, who were able to hold on to a 3-2 win at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark on Thursday night. A wild pitch, a strikeout, and a throwing error allowed Wilmington to grab a late lead that they did not surrender.

The Blue Rocks (59-70, 21-38 second half), who entered the game with the worst overall record in the Carolina League, were the first to score on Thursday. Right fielder Elier Hernandez led off the top of the second with a double to the left-center field wall, and an infield single moved him to third base. The next batter, second baseman Humberto Arteaga, lined out to the right field gap, and Hernandez tagged and scored to give Wilmington a 1-0 lead.

In the fourth, Hernandez led off with a triple to the left-field corner. Center fielder Dominique Taylor was then hit by a pitch. Arteaga stepped to the plate facing Pelicans starter Daury Torrez and bounced into a 6-4-3 double play that allowed Hernandez to score and move the Blue Rocks ahead, 2-0.

Myrtle Beach (76-52, 35-24 second half) rallied for a couple of runs in the bottom of the fourth to draw the game even against right-hander Zach Lovvorn. Mark Zagunis beat out an infield single into the shortstop hole to start the inning, and he moved to second on a ground out. The next batter, Jacob Rogers, clubbed an RBI double to the wall in center field that scored Zagunis and brought the game to within a run. A wild pitch moved Rogers to third, and two batters later, Cael Brockmeyer lined a sharp single to center field to tie the game at 2-2.

In both the fifth and the seventh innings, the Birds put the go-ahead runner at third base, but they failed to score.

In the top half of the eighth, the Blue Rocks forced the issue and grabbed the lead on a strikeout, wild pitch, and an error. Shortstop Jack Lopez laced a leadoff single up the middle against reliever James Farris, and after the next two men were retired Lopez stole second base. Hernandez then struck out swinging on a wild pitch that kicked up the first base line. Catcher Victor Caratini stumbled as he fielded the ball and then made an errant throw to first base. With no one covering home plate, Lopez scored from second to give Wilmington a 3-2 edge.

In the bottom of the ninth, Caratini led off with a booming double off the top of the center-field wall that nearly left the ballpark, but the Pelicans failed to drive him in. Right-hander Estarlin Cordero struck out Brockmeyer and induced a pair of ground outs to end the ballgame and collect his tenth save of the year.

Torrez, who recorded seven innings of work on Thursday, took no decision. The right-hander allowed two runs, both earned, on seven hits while striking out five and walking none.

Farris (0-4) was saddled with the loss in one inning of work. Lovvorn (4-4) was the winning pitcher, also going seven complete frames and allowing two runs, both earned, on seven hits. The righty struck out three and walked just one.

With first-place Winston-Salem winning on Thursday, the Pelicans now trail the Dash by two-and-a-half games in the Carolina League Southern Division Standings with 10 games remaining for both clubs in the regular season.

The Pelicans continue their home series with Wilmington on Friday with a 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch. Wilmington will send right-hander Jake Junis (4-11, 3.81) to the hill. The Pelicans starter is yet to be announced.

The game can be heard live on 1450 WRNN-AM ESPN Myrtle Beach, on the TuneIn Radio App, and via the MiLB First Pitch App, beginning with the Pregame Show at 6:45 p.m. ET. The game will also air along with live streaming video on MiLB.tv (subscription required).

Friday will be Ticket Amnesty Night, presented by Wave 104.1 FM, and any unused ticket can be exchanged for a ticket to this game. It will also be PGA Superstore Closest to the Pin Competition, where kids 12 and under are invited to participate in a golf skills competition located in the Kids Zone

Friday will also be another Ladies Night, presented by Star 92.1 and 707 Indoor Shooting Range. Ladies 21 years-old and older can enjoy half-price wine from 6:00-8:00 p.m. ET.

A full promotional schedule for the Pelicans' final homestand of the year can be found here.

The 2015 season marks the 17th season for the Pelicans franchise and first as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2015, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail info@myrtlebeachpelicans.com, or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

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Carolina League Stories from August 27, 2015


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