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CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Early Pelicans Lead Crumbles Late in Finale

August 4, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


KINSTON, N.C. - A first-inning Pelicans charge didn't stand up in Kinston as the Indians rallied from a 2-0 deficit following the opening frame to take a 3-2 victory and, with it, a series win over Myrtle Beach in the final regular season clash ever between these two clubs at Historic Grainger Stadium.

Kinston's rally began late in a game that looked like could get away from them early. The Pelicans got three straight hits against Indians starting pitcher Mike Rayl to open the evening in the first and, combined with a sacrifice fly, they added up to a 2-0 lead. Kinston chipped away as Rayl settled in, though, getting a run back in the fifth to set the stage for their eighth-inning heroics. Against three different Myrtle Beach arms in the decisive inning, including Trevor Hurley who allowed the Tribe's first two baserunners to reach and Joe Ortiz who allowed them to score, the Indians put four aboard in the inning and got the big blow on a two-run, bases-loaded single by Adam Abraham to go in front 3-2.

Hurley (1-4) took the defeat after exiting with runners at first and second. Ortiz only faced two men, walking Jordan Casas on four pitches and giving up Abraham's knock. Myrtle Beach's loss was just its third in 48 games in which it led after seven innings.

Myrtle Beach looked as if it had the makings of a big night at the plate on the way in the early going, but after the first, Rayl clamped down. The Pelicans had just two hits after the opening inning and only four other baserunners on the night, three on walks. The lack of run support didn't seem to faze starting pitcher Chad Bell who, in his first start as a full-fledged member of the rotation after his move from the bullpen, looked poised against the Indians. Bell surrendered just one run on three hits over six innings of work, striking out six while walking one.

The Pelicans' best chance at insurance came in the seventh. A leadoff Vinny DiFazio walk and Santiago Chirino single behind him put runners at first and second with nobody out, but Rayl and reliever Toru Murata (1-2) worked out of the jam. The Pelicans didn't put a runner past first the rest of the way.

For the second time in as many days, Preston Guilmet (S, 28) closed out the Pelicans in the ninth, this time working around a leadoff walk he issued to Jared Prince.

The Pelicans have slipped to a game and a half behind Kinston in third place in the Southern Division second-half race and open a two-series homestand against Northern Division opponents this weekend. Friday night, the Potomac Nationals come to town for the first of three at BB&T Coastal Field. Tickets for all Pelicans home games can be purchased by visiting the BB&T Coastal Field box office, the Tickets page at MyrtleBeachPelicans.com, or by calling (843)918-6000 or (877)918-TIXX.

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