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CarL Myrtle Beach Pelicans

First Inning Lead Holds, Pelicans Defeat Nationals 3-1

June 17, 2023 - Carolina League (CarL)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


Every single run was scored in the opening frame as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans held on for a 3-1 win over the Fredericksburg Nationals on Saturday night. With the win and Columbia's win earlier, the Pelicans' magic number to clinch the first-half title is two with four games left. Myrtle Beach improved their record to 37-25 while Fredericksburg dropped to 29-31.

The Pelicans used a pair of doubles after being shutout last night to power their lineup as Reivaj Garcia (1-4, 2B) and Felix Stevens (1-4, 2B, RBI) each doubled in the first inning. Jefferson Rojas (1-2, RBI) hit a sacrifice fly in the first as well.

It was an impressive performance from the Birds' bullpen as three pitchers kept the Nationals at one run with Angel Hernandez (2-2) grabbing the win with a scoreless frame. Yovanny Cabrera was tabbed with the three-inning save with three strikeouts and retired nine of the 10 batters he faced. Starter Jackson Ferris allowed the run but struck out four in his three innings.

Fredericksburg was held to just three hits after the first, but Daylen Lile (2-4, 2 2B) provided the offense with a pair of doubles and one run scored. Branden Boissiere (2-4, RBI) collected a pair of singles, including an RBI hit in the first. The Nationals left nine on base and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Starting pitcher Riley Cornelio (2-3) took the loss after allowing three earned runs in his five innings off five hits and two walks while striking out the final two batters he faced. Franklin Marquez kept his scoreless streak going out of the bullpen with two shutout frames.

All the action was contained to the first inning as Fredericksburg took an early lead. After Ferris struck out the first two, Lile doubled and later scored on a single by Boissiere that was grounded into left for a 1-0 lead.

It took one pitch for the Pelicans to position themselves to score in the bottom half as Garcia hit a double off the wall in right-center and moved to third as Christopher De La Cruz fumbled the ball in the outfield. After Rafael Morel drew a walk, Cornelio balked on the mound to bring home the first run as Garcia scored. Moises Ballesteros drew a walk and Stevens later pulled a double down the line in left that scored Morel to give the Pelicans the lead 2-1. With runners on second and third, Rojas hit a sacrifice fly to center as Ballesteros came home and the Birds extended their lead to 3-1.

Fredericksburg had two big chances in the top of the fourth and fifth to get closer. With the bases loaded and one out, De La Cruz grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

In the fifth, the Nationals put runners on second and third when Luis Rujano struck out Paul Witt and Boissiere flew out to end the inning.

The tying run was brought to the plate in the Nationals' half of the ninth as Geraldi Diaz drew a walk to open the inning. Cabrera retired the following three batters to end the game.

The Pelicans enter tomorrow with a chance to take their fourth series in a row with first pitch at 6:35 p.m. against the Nationals. With a win and a Columbia loss, the Pelicans will clinch the Carolina League South first-half title.

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