CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Former Pelicans Shine In MLB All-Star Game

Published on July 13, 2011 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


PHOENIX, AZ - The best players in Major League Baseball took part in Tuesday's All-Star Game at Chase Field and for three of them, their road to this grand stage took them through BB&T Coastal Field. Catcher Brian McCann, closer Craig Kimbrel and southpaw reliever Jonny Venters, all of the Atlanta Braves, are former Myrtle Beach Pelicans that helped lead the National League to a 5-1 win.

McCann came through Myrtle Beach in 2004, then again in 2009 on a rehab assignment. He's become one of the best backstops in baseball and was once again rewarded with the starting nod behind the plate for the Senior Circuit. Named to his sixth straight All-Star Game, McCann batted in the five spot in Bruce Bochy's lineup.

In the second inning he lifted a deep drive to right field that was caught in foul territory on a nice sliding play by Jose Bautista. Against Rangers lefty C.J. Wilson in the fourth, he hit a foul pop to third to finish his night 0-for-2 as he was replaced by Yadier Molina the next inning.

Kimbrel, a Pelican in 2008 and 2009, is enjoying an outstanding 2011 campaign as he led the majors in saves with 28 in the first half. In his first All-Star Game, he was called on to relieve teammate Jair Jurrjens with two outs and one on in the seventh inning and protect a 4-1 lead. He walked Paul Konerko to bring the tying run to the plate, but he induced a groundout from Howie Kendrick to get out of the jam.

Another Brave and former Pelican replaced Kimbrel to start the eighth. Left-hander Jonny Venters was also making his first All-Star Game appearance after a dominant first half in which he's emerged as one of the game's top set-up men. Venters, who pitched for Myrtle Beach in 2007 and 2008, retired Matt Wieters on a groundout before striking out Jacoby Ellsbury to end his brief outing.

Heath Bell, Joel Hanrahan and Brian Wilson picked up the final four outs to seal the National League's 5-1 win. After going winless in the previous 13 Midsummer Classics from 1997-2009, the N.L. has now the game the past two years.

On the American League side, the Pelicans' parent club sent five players to Phoenix and all five Texas Rangers saw action. Josh Hamilton started in left field and batted fifth. He grounded out in the second inning against Roy Halladay and singled in the fourth off former teammate Cliff Lee. The 2010 A.L. Most Valuable Player was replaced in the sixth inning by Matt Joyce.

Third baseman Adrian Beltre started the game as well for the Junior Circuit, batting right behind Hamilton in the six hole. He flew out in the second inning against Halladay and in the fourth, laced a single to left that looked like it would bring Bautista home from second base and give the A.L. a 2-0 lead. Left fielder Hunter Pence made a great throw to the plate to nab Bautista and rob Beltre of a run batted in. In the next frame, Beltre was taken out for Kevin Youkilis.

Seven-time All-Star Michael Young entered as a substitute in the seventh inning at third base and played the rest of the game. He led off the ninth against Hanrahan and struck out swinging.

Southpaw C.J. Wilson pitched the fourth inning and took the loss, surrendering singles to Carlos Beltran and Matt Kemp before Prince Fielder launched a mammoth three-run home run to center field that gave the N.L. the lead for good. Fielder took home Most Valuable Player honors as Wilson tried to look at the bright side, saying, "Maybe this is an elaborate scheme for me to hit a home run in the World Series." Wilson is the second Texas hurler to be the losing pitcher in the All-Star Game, after Jim Kern in 1979.

Alexi Ogando, who started the March 29 exhibition game at BB&T Coastal Field for the Rangers against Coastal Carolina, had a dominant outing in the eighth inning. He threw six pitches, all strikes, in setting down Andrew McCutchen and 2010 N.L. Most Valuable Player Joey Votto on groundouts.

The Pelicans begin an eight-game homestand tonight with the first of four games against the Salem Red Sox. First pitch for Wednesday's game, as well as the other seven games, is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Tickets for all Pelicans home games are available at 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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Carolina League Stories from July 13, 2011


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