CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Birds Fall 8-7 in Kinston Series Finale

Published on August 21, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Pelicans suffered a disappointing 8-7 loss to the Kinston Indians in their series finale on Sunday at BB&T Coastal Field. Jesus Aguilar broke a 7-7 tie in the sixth inning with a home run that gives the K-Tribe a split of the four-game set and a 10-10 split of the season series. The Birds did not gain any ground in the Southern Division second-half race this weekend.

The Indians moved back to a half-game ahead of the Winston-Salem Dash in the Southern Division second-half standings. The Pelicans squandered an opportunity to move to within a game and a half back, and now sit three and one-half games behind.

If Kinston doesn't pull out the second-half division title to set up a playoff matchup with the Pelicans, Sunday's Indians' victory will be the last-ever meeting between the two rivals as Kinston will move to Zebulon, NC for the 2012 season.

After the teams traded first-inning runs, Kinston plated four in the second off Miguel De Los Santos on an Argenis Martinez two-run single and a two-run homer by Delvi Cid.

Myrtle Beach answered back with five runs in the third to take the lead. Travis Adair singled in the first run and Mike Olt drew a bases-loaded walk before Zach Zaneski followed with a two-run double. Santiago Chirino's sacrifice fly brought in the go-ahead run against reliever Chris Jones after the Birds knocked out starter Clayton Cook.

The Indians came right back in the fourth, tying the game on an Adam Abraham infield single and they took a 7-6 lead on shortstop Jimmy Swift's wild throw to first. The Birds evened the score at seven in the bottom half of the inning on Jared Prince's infield hit that scored Adair.

Joe Ortiz (4-5) pitched well from the sixth through the eighth innings for Myrtle Beach, but his one mistake made the difference. Aguilar's third home run of the series decided the game.

The Pelicans had many chances to break through but could not get the big hit late. They left the bases loaded in the fourth and against K-Tribe righty Toru Murata, they left them loaded again in the sixth inning before leaving runners at the corners in the seventh.

Murata (2-2) picked up the victory with three and two-thirds scoreless innings. The Birds put the tying run at first to start the ninth against star closer Preston Guilmet, but Chirino popped up a bunt and the home team went down quietly the rest of the way as Guilmet recorded his league-leading 33rd save.

Kinston heads to Frederick for a four-game series starting tomorrow while Myrtle Beach has the night off. The Pelicans are back in action on Tuesday night when they host the Lynchburg Hillcats for the first of a three-game set with righty Wilfredo Boscan (4-11, 4.31) on the hill. 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.

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Carolina League Stories from August 21, 2011


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