CarL Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Errors Down Pelicans, Hillcats Take Game Three

Published on September 3, 2021 under Carolina League (CarL)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


The Myrtle Beach Pelicans fell for the first time this week with a 7-3 loss to the Lynchburg Hillcats on Thursday night. The loss drops Myrtle Beach down to 53-52 on the year, while Lynchburg moves up to 51-54. The Pelicans still hold a two-game to one lead over the Hillcats this week through three games.

Owen Caissie (1-4, HR, RBI) blasted his first home run in a Pelicans uniform with a solo shot to center in the fourth inning. Jonathan Sierra (0-3, RBI) brought home the other RBI on a groundout. It was a solid night for Jordan Nwogu (2-4, R) who posted his second multi-hit game of the week.

The night opened with Manuel Espinoza (4-7) retiring the first 11 batters he faced, before allowing three earned runs off three hits to finish out his 4 2/3 innings outing. Sheldon Reed and Riley Martin combined to throw the final 4 1/3 innings with three runs given up off six hits.

The Hillcats turned nine hits into seven runs with a pair of home runs from Angel Martinez (2-5, HR, 2 RBI) and Alexfri Planez (1-5, HR, RBI). Petey Halpin (2-4, 3B, RBI) also smashed an RBI triple in the win.

Jaime Arias (8-4) came out of the bullpen and lasted 5 1/3 innings with three earned runs allowed off four hits while striking out a career-high-tying 10 batters. He took over for Aaron Davenport, who made his Hillcats debut with two hits allowed over three innings and six strikeouts.

With Espinoza dominating through the Hillcats lineup, he retired the first two batters in the fourth but walked Gabriel Rodriguez to put a runner on. Planez followed with a routine fly ball to second that was dropped by Fabian Pertuz to put runners on first and second. Korey Holland then singled on a line drive to right to bring home a run and give Lynchburg their first lead.

Caissie evened things up as Arias came into the game. On a 2-1 pitch, Caissie hit a moonshot to center field for his first home run of the season to tie the game 1-1.

Lynchburg put up a three-spot in the top of the fifth with Jorge Burgos leading off with a walk. After the next to batters were retired, Halpin tripled off the wall in right to make it a 2-1 lead. Martinez followed with a home run to right field that hit off the clubhouse roof to push the Hillcats lead to 4-1.

Reed entered the game to finish off the fifth and faced Planez to start the sixth. On the first pitch of the inning, Planez hit a no-doubt home run to left-center for his 14th of the year.

The Pelicans grabbed two back in the bottom half as Kevin Made and Nwogu hit back-to-back singles. With runners on the corners, Arias tried a pick-off move on Nwogu at first that went wild and allowed Made to score. Nwogu moved to third soon after on a wild pitch. Sierra came up and grounded out to second base as Nwogu scored to bring the Birds closer 5-3.

The game broke open as Lynchburg scored twice in the top of the ninth. Miguel Jerez walked and Yordys Valdes singled to put runners on first and second to start. Halpin dropped a bunt down that catcher Ethan Hearn fielded but threw wide to first as Jerez came in to score. With runners on the corners, Martinez grounded into a double play that allowed Valdes to cross home and make it a 7-3 ballgame.

Game four is slated for Friday at 7:05 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on the Marquee Sports Network, the TV home of the Chicago Cubs.

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Carolina League Stories from September 3, 2021


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