Another Blue Rocks Eighth Dooms Pelicans
May 22, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release
WILMINGTON, DE - An early Pelicans 1-0 lead wasn't enough Sunday at Wilmington as the Blue Rocks completed a three-game series sweep behind another strong pitching performance and timely late hitting for a 3-1 finale win over the Pelicans at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium.
For the first time in this series, the visitors got the game's initial upper hand when three bloop singles by the Pelicans' Mitch Hilligoss, David Paisano and Santiago Chirino over a four-batter span conspired to bring home the afternoon's first run in the top half of the second inning against Wilmington starter Noel Arguelles. Myrtle Beach's early advantage was short-lived.
The Blue Rocks responded almost immediately, knotting the game following a leadoff single by Juan Graterol and two-out RBI double by Carlo Testa in the bottom of the third inning. Starters Arguelles and Myrtle Beach's Joe Wieland traded zeroes from then on with the Pelicans' righty racking up the strikeouts yet again. The Carolina League's ERA leader tallied ten punchouts on the day and was pulled after allowing a two-out single to Whit Merrifield in the bottom of the eighth. Against reliever Joe Ortiz, the Blue Rocks broke through and handed Wieland (4-3) the defeat.
Carlo Testa laced an RBI single off Ortiz with Merrifield scoring from second base to give Wilmington the lead. Testa advanced to second on the throw to try to nab Merrifield at the plate, and he scored one batter later on Rey Navarro's double.
Blue Rocks reliever Michael Mariot, a University of Nebraska product who has piggybacked on Arguelles's outings this year, earned the victory. Mariot (5-0) pitched three and one-third innings in relief and allowed only one Myrtle Beach hit.
Wilmington's win gave the Blue Rocks a three-game sweep over the Pelicans, the first time the Birds have been broomed in a series this season.
After a Monday off, the Birds return home to the Grand Strand for the first of six with the Salem Red Sox and Wilmington Blue Rocks on May 24. Tickets for all Pelicans home games can be purchased by visiting the BB&T Coastal Field Box office, the Tickets page at MyrtleBeachPelicans.com, or by calling (843)918-6000 or (877)918-TIXX.
Carolina League Stories from May 22, 2011
- K-Tribe Shock Keys in Finale - Frederick Keys
- Sunday Comeback Falls Short; Sox Fall 8-7 - Salem Red Sox
- Souza Hits HR in Third Straight, P-Nats Lose 7-6 - Potomac Nationals
- Frawley's Home Run Gives Kinston a 6-5 Win - Kinston Indians
- Dash Pile on Early, Hold on Late - Winston-Salem Dash
- Hillcats Hold off 'Nats to Snap Skid - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Blue Rocks Equal Season-High with Seventh Straight Win - Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Another Blue Rocks Eighth Dooms Pelicans - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Kinston Indians Game Notes - Kinston Indians
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes - Winston-Salem Dash
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
- Myrtle Beach Pelicans Game Notes - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Santiago Promoted to Birmingham - Winston-Salem Dash
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
