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CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Birds Bats Break out in 8-4 Win

June 9, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, SC - In dropping the first two games of a four-game set with Winston-Salem, the Pelicans seemed to be in dire straits after losing their sixth of nine games. The resilient Birds bounced back from a rough patch that included an injury to top run producer Mike Olt to win the last two games, including an 8-4 win over the Dash to earn a four-game split at BB&T Coastal Field.

Barret Loux tossed seven strong innings and was aided by a relentless Myrtle Beach offense as the Pelicans increased their lead in the Carolina League's Southern Division to four games over the Kinston Indians, who were rained out in Wilmington.

The Pelicans' victory combined with the rainout at Frawley Stadium, the circuit's first cancelled game of the 2011 season, lowers the Pelicans' magic number to clinch the first-half title and a postseason berth to seven. With only ten games left in the first half, the front-running Pelicans head to Kinston on Friday to begin a three-game weekend set that will impact the pennant race.

The Pelicans jumped on Dash starter Ryan Buch quickly in the second inning. Chris McGuiness led off with a walk and Jared Prince and David Paisano followed with singles to load the bases. Santiago Chirino was hit by a pitch to force in the game's first run. Leury Garcia grounded a single up the middle to plate two before a wild pitch brought in Chrino for the fourth run of the frame.

In his five-inning start, Buch (1-2) gave up eight runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out eight. Addison Reed tossed two scoreless frames for Winston-Salem before Taylor Thompson put up a zero of his own in the eighth.

Winston-Salem got on the board in the third when Kyle Colligan scored on a Jared Mitchell sacrifice fly to center. Mrytle Beach answered in the home half of the inning with another four-spot. Carolina League All-Star Ryan Strausborger singled to start the frame and extend his on-base streak to 20 consecutive games. McGuiness walked and Prince singled home Strausborger for a 5-1 lead. Vinny DiFazio launched a monstrous three-run home run to left field to make it an 8-1 lead before there was an out in the third.

Loux (5-3) allowed a solo homer to his former Texas A&M teammate Colligan in the fifth, but cruised through seven innings. The right-hander allowed two runs on five hits, walking one and striking out six.

With Loux out of the game, Winston-Salem crept back in the game in the eighth against lefty reliever Kasey Kiker. Jose Martinez drove in Dan Wagner with a single and Ian Gac brought home Tyler Saladino on a fielder's choice groundout to cut the lead to 8-4. Trevor Hurley entered with two out and the tying run in the on-deck circle, but struck out Jake Oester to end the threat.

The Dash did not go away quietly in the ninth. After two quick outs, Wagner reached on an error in centerfield by Strausborger and Saladino walked to put the tying run on deck again. Hurley (S, 4) buckled down to strike out Mitchell and end the game.

The Pelicans' series in Kinston that begins Friday kicks off a six-game road trip. Carolina League All-Star Robbie Ross goes for the Birds against Marty Popham of the Indians. First pitch at Grainger Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. After that series, the Pelicans are in Potomac for three games Monday through Wednesday.

The Pelicans come home on Thursday, June 16 to wrap up the first half with four games against the Frederick Keys. 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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