Birds Bats Continue To Struggle In Loss

August 27, 2009 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Looking for a series split to salvage an above-.500 homestand and generate some momentum for a make-or-break road trip, the Pelicans again couldn't find an offensive rhythm against the Potomac Nationals in the finale of four.

Potomac took the series win with its third straight victory following a Monday night loss behind a strong effort by four pitchers before 3,250 at BB&T Coastal Field.

In the final matchup of the 2009 season series between these two teams, Myrtle Beach notched the first run of the game for the first time in the series with Chris Shehan driving in Gerry Rodriguez with one out in the bottom of the second inning. The Pelicans held that advantage until the top of the fourth when Potomac's Jesus Valdez homered with nobody on and one out to tie the game at 1-1. Myrtle Beach starter Richard Sullivan, winless since May 27, allowed just that one through the first four innings but ran into trouble with two outs in the fifth. With one out, Tim Pahuta singled and came home one out later on a Boomer Whiting RBI base hit. Whiting's base hit was the first of four straight for Potomac, the third of which was the death blow in the series finale: Danny Espinosa's three-run shot to left field to put the P-Nats up 5-1. Sullivan (2-12) was charged with five runs on seven hits over five innings to extend his winless streak to 13 starts.

The Nationals pitched three men in relief behind spot starter Osvaldo Rodriguez. Ricardo Pecina (1-0) earned the victory with an inning and two-thirds of scoreless, one-hit ball. He struck out three and walked one. The Birds got two runs back on a Donell Linares homer off Justin Phillabaum with nobody out in the sixth, but it's as close as Myrtle Beach would get. Dan Leatherman (5) worked the seventh, eighth and ninth innings for the save.

With the loss, the Pelicans head out on their final road trip of the season with games at Frederick and Wilmington. A three-game series against the Keys begins Friday night in Maryland. Myrtle Beach returns home Friday, August 4 for the final regular season series of 2009 at BB&T Coastal Field against the Winston-Salem Dash. Tickets are available through the Pelicans box office at BB&T Coastal Field, by phone at (843)918-6000 or by visiting the Tickets page at MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

Carolina League Stories from August 27, 2009

• Caldera Stymies Lynchburg Offense In Series Finale - Lynchburg Hillcats
• P-Nats Hold On To Take Series From P-Cans - Potomac Nationals
• Keys Officially Eliminated From Playoff Contention - Frederick Keys
• Persichina's Pop Powers Dash Past Sox 4-3 - Salem Red Sox
• Exclamation Domination Caps Off Sweep - Wilmington Blue Rocks
• Birds Bats Continue To Struggle In Loss - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
• Persichina's Blast Powers Dash Past Red Sox in Series Finale - Winston-Salem Dash
• Potomac Nationals Game Notes - Potomac Nationals
• Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Lynchburg Hillcats
• Dash Partner with Second Harvest Food Bank to Strike Out Hunger - Winston-Salem Dash

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