CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Behind Rivas, Birds Earn Split

Published on April 26, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


SALEM, VA - In the conclusion of a series marked by pitching, the finale was no different. The Myrtle Beach Pelicans earned a split of their first 2009 series with the Salem Red Sox with a 4-3 win in the fourth game of the set.

For the third straight game, the Pelicans jumped out to an early lead, this time on the strength of RBI singles by Cole Miles and Robert Marcial. Miles plated Benji Johnson who had doubled to open the inning. Miles later came around to score on Marcial's knock up the middle. The Pelicans scored first in every game in the series, something they had struggled mightily with up to this series.

Myrtle Beach would add another in the fourth. Chasing Salem starter Kyle Weiland (0-2) after just three innings, the Pelicans opened the fourth with back-to-back singles by Miles and Marcial. After Miles was forced out at third by a Quentin Davis fielder's choice, Donell Linares stroked a single to left to score Marcial. Following consecutive nights off to open the four-game set, Linares has caught fire, posting back-to-back multi-hit games including a 3-4, two RBI effort Sunday to boost his average 66 points to .217. Weiland was charged with two runs-one earned-on four hits over his three innings while taking the loss.

The Pelicans' once-struggling starting rotation appears to have hit its stride, as well. Lefty Carlos Rivas (1-2) added his name to a list of starters including Jeff Locke and Edgar Osuna who dominated the Red Sox offense over three straight days. Rivas went five shutout innings allowing just three hits in by far his best outing of the year to earn his first victory. Not counting Thursday night's series opener, in which Jose Ortegano was touched up for five runs on five hits over five innings, Pelicans starters threw a combined 18 innings and surrendered just one earned run while scattering nine hits.

Myrtle Beach cruised until the sixth when Salem got on the board. Facing Pelicans reliever Jaye Chapman, Jason Place walked and went first-to-third on a Michael Jones single. Luis Exposito's sacrifice fly scored Place, cutting the Pelicans lead to 3-1. beforeChapman got out the inning with no further damage.

Craig Kimbrel worked a scoreless seventh, and Myrtle Beach got the tally back in the top of the eighth. Miles walked to start the inning and later scored on another Linares RBI single. The bottom of the eighth was a tense one as Pelicans reliever Tyler Wilson allowed a leadoff single by Place and back-to-back walks to Jones and Exposito opening the Salem half. After a Zak Farkes sacrifice fly scored Place, Wilson was lifted in favor of Tommy Palica who surrendered a Jered Stanley RBI single that cut the Pelicans lead to 4-3 before slamming the door.

Cory Gearrin (S, 6) worked around a one-out Ryan Kalish single in the ninth, striking out two and nailing down his sixth save of the year.

The Pelicans return home Monday for the first of a six-game homestand first hosting the Lynchburg Hillcats for three games and then welcoming the Red Sox to Myrtle Beach for another three-game set Friday-Sunday. Tickets for both series are available by calling the Pelicans box office at (843)918-6000 or by visiting the Tickets page at MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

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Carolina League Stories from April 26, 2009


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