CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Birds Fall as Astros Bid for History

Published on May 7, 2017 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.- Daniel Spingola hit two doubles and garnered a career-high four RBIs, but the Buies Creek Astros tied a Minor League Baseball record with seven home runs as a team to beat the Myrtle Beach Pelicnas 12-6 on Sunday, earning a series split at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.

Buies Creek (20-11) set the tone with the very first batter of the game, as Jason Martin led off the contest with a solo home run over the right field wall against Myrtle Beach (17-14) starter Ryan Kellogg (1-2). Arturo Michelena and Pat Porter would later single in the inning, setting up Anibal Sierra, who launched the Astros' second home run of the inning, a three-run home run. That extended the Buies Creek lead to 4-0 in the first inning of the contest.

Myrtle Beach would post a run in their half of the first inning, cutting the Buies Creek lead down to three. Carlos Sepulveda led off the frame with an opposite-field base hit to left field, and was then joined on the bases by P.J. Higgins, who reached first base on a catcher interference call. Sepulveda advanced to third base on a double play, setting up Eddy Martinez, who delivered an RBI infield single to make the score 4-1.

The 'Stros continued their offensive onslaught in the top of the second inning, scoring four more runs. Eduardo de Oleo and Johnny Sewald both reached base to begin the frame. Martin then launched his second home run of the game, a three-run shot, to extend the Buies Creek lead to 7-1. Two batters later, Kyle Tucker launched his first home run of the game to give the Astros back-to-back four-run innings.

In the fourth, Martin continued to lower the boom as he launched his third home run of the game, tying a Carolina League record for most home runs in a contest, as he extended the Astros lead to 9-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Birds started their comeback pursuit scoring a trio of runs. Martinez singled to kick off the frame, then was accompanied by Jesse Hodges who walked two batters later to put two men on with one man retired. Tyler Alamo would load the bases with a base hit into left field against Astros starter Matt Bower (2-0). Spingola plated two on a double double in the fourth inning before an RBI ground out off the bat of Robert Garcia made things 9-4.

Buies Creek continued their offensive dominance, as they pieced together a record-tying sixth inning. Tucker smashed his second home run of the game, a two-run shot, giving him four dingers in his last two games. Porter would then go back-to-back with Tucker for the Astros' seventh home run of the game, tying the MiLB record for most home runs by a team in one contest. With Porter's blast, the 'Stros extended their lead to 12-4.

Myrtle Beach would try and mount their final comeback attempt in the eighth inning. Matt Rose led off the inning with a double, and then Hodges was hit by a pitch. Alamo would once again lace a single into left, loading the bases for Spingola. The left fielder deposited his second double of the games off the right field wall, capping off his four-RBI game by plating both Alamo and Hodges to make the score 12-6.

Myrtle Beach and Winston-Salem will kick off their first three-game series of the season on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. from BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem N.C. RHP Adbert Alzolay (2-0, 3.00 ERA) will get the nod for the Birds against Dash RHP Aron McRee (0-4, 5.14 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn.

The 2017 season is the 19th season for the Pelicans franchise and third as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2017, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail info@myrtlebeachpelicans.com, or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

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Carolina League Stories from May 7, 2017


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