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CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Birds Fall Short Again

July 6, 2007 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, SC - Myrtle Beach tied the game in the bottom of the ninth but fell in extra innings for the second straight night, as Wilmington scored two unearned runs in the top of the 11th for a 5-3 victory before 4,475 fans at Coastal Federal Field Friday night. The Blue Rocks boosted their record to a league-best 12-4 in the second half and 42-42 overall while the Pelicans fell back to .500 at 8-8 and 38-47.

Wilmington never trailed in the game, striking for a run in the first off Pelicans starter Dustin Evans, who was activated from the disabled list prior to the game and was making his first start since May 27th. Marc Maddox singled and stole second base with one out, and Brian McFall brought him home with a sacrifice fly to left. Myrtle Beach answered in the bottom of the second however, as Roberto Alvarez led off with an infield single to short to extend his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games and scored on an RBI single to center by Jose Camarena to tie the game at 1-1.

The Rocks struck back in the fourth, as reliever Carlos Sencion struck out the first two hitters before a two-out walk to Brett Bigler extended the inning for Chris McConnell. Three pitches later, McConnell put Wilmington ahead 3-1 with a two-run homer to left. The Birds got a run back in the bottom of the frame as Alvarez and Camarena combined again, with Alvarez picking up a two-out single and Camarena bringing him home with a knock to center to cut the deficit to 3-2. Myrtle Beach had chances throughout the next few innings, but the three runners that made it to second base never made it past second base until Matt Young greeted Blue Rocks closer Russ Haltiwanger with a first-pitch triple to right-center to start the bottom of the ninth. Haltiwanger recovered to strike out Alvarez, but with Paul Bennett at the plate Haltiwanger uncorked a wild pitch to bring home Young with the tying run.

Both clubs went in order in the 10th, but in the 11th a miscue in the field would prove too much for Myrtle Beach to overcome. Kevin Gunderson came on in relief to start the inning and struck out Jose Duarte, but Maddox followed with a ground ball to short. Elvis Andrus backed up to field the ball, but his throw to first sailed over Bennett's head and into the stands for a two-base throwing error. Myrtle Beach then opted to intentionally walk Kiel Thibault to set up a potential double play, but Brad McCann (the older brother of former Pelicans catcher and current Atlanta backstop Brian McCann) spoiled the strategy with a two-run double to right-center to account for the winning margin. Myrtle Beach had one final chance in the bottom of the 11th when Alvarez came to the plate as the potential tying run, but his drive to center field didn't carry and Duarte made the play.

Haltiwanger (4-3) blew the save but earned the win, allowing a run and a hit in two innings. Gunderson (2-4) suffered a tough loss as both runs were unearned in his lone inning of work. Former Pelican Arthur Santos worked the 11th for his second save. Alvarez went 2-5 and now has eight multi-hit games over his 10-game streak, while Schafer and Camarena also had two hits and Camarena finished with two RBI.

Game two in this three-game series is set for 7:05 p.m. Saturday and the first 1,000 fans will receive a free beach bag courtesy of the Fairfield Inn. Southpaw Jonny Venters (1-3, 3.36 ERA) will toe the bump for Myrtle Beach against Wilmington's Daniel Cortes (1-5, 4.23 ERA). The game broadcast begins at 6:45 p.m. with the RSC Equipment Rental pre-game show on ESPN Radio the Team (93.7 FM, 93.9 FM, and 1050 AM) and online at www.myrtlebeachpelicans.com. For more information, please call the Pelicans at (843) 918-6002.

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