CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Birds Drop Opener to Dash 3-2

Published on July 29, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans did not have another comeback in them on Friday. After Robbie Ross tossed seven strong innings for the Birds, Winston-Salem's Jared Mitchell ripped an RBI double to break a 2-2 tie in the eighth and the Pelicans went down quietly the rest of the way as the Dash took the opener of a three-game weekend set at BB&T Coastal Field 3-2.

Ross had a brief hiccup in the third inning, when Brady Shoemaker's two-out, two-run single gave the Dash an early advantage. The lefty settled in to retire 13 of the last 15 batters he faced, allowing the offense to get back in it. Ross took another no decision and kept up his terrific second-half run. In seven starts since appearing in the All-Star Game, the lefty has allowed only six earned runs in 45 innings, but despite the 1.20 ERA, he only has two wins to show for it.

The Pelicans' bats were largely held at bay by Winston-Salem starter Brad Furnish. After posting a 13.50 ERA in his first three outings with the Dash since signing with the White Sox out of independent ball, Furnish tossed five innings of one-run ball before leaving with a blister on his pitching hand while warming up for the sixth.

His great night ended on a sour note, but he showed impeccable control in the early innings, throwing only two balls out of the zone through the first three innings. Overall he threw 37 of his 44 pitches for strikes.

Andre Rienzo entered for the Dash in the sixth after Furnish's injury and quickly gave up the 2-1 lead. Andres James doubled and moved to third on a Leury Garcia sacrifice bunt, setting things up for Jared Bolden, who had tripled and scored the Birds' first run in the fourth inning. Bolden laced a double past the drawn-in infield that plated James and it was a brand new game at 2-2.

The tie carried into the eighth, and right-hander Ryan Kelly came on for the home team. He walked leadoff batter Tyler Saladino before Mitchell put Winston-Salem ahead with his double into the gap in left center. Kelly (3-5) set down the last five men he faced to end his night, but he still took the loss.

Rienzo (3-4) worked a perfect seventh to earn the victory and put up another zero in the eighth before handing the game over to Ryan Kussmaul (S, 4), who put down the Pelicans 1-2-3 in the ninth to record the save and give Winston-Salem a 3-2 win. With Kinston falling 4-0 in Wilmington, the Dash moved into first place in the Carolina League Southern Division standings by one-half game over the K-Tribe. The Pelicans sit in third place, but are only a game and a half back of the lead.

Travis Adair singled in the second to extend his consecutive hits streak to 10-for-10, but he struck out looking in the fourth against Furnish to end his run two hits shy of the league record. Kenny Kuhn of the Burlington Indians went on a 12-for-12 tear in 1958. Two southpaws will square off in the middle game of the series on Saturday night with Miguel De Los Santos (2-2, 2.89) going for the Birds against Matt Wickswat (4-1, 3.14) of Winston-Salem. First pitch at BB&T Coastal Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Tickets for all Pelicans home games, including the postseason, are available at the BB&T Coastal Field box office, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com, and by phone at 843-918-6000 or 877-918-TIXX.

Check out the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Carolina League Stories from July 29, 2011


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.

OurSports Central