CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Four Homers Spark Improbable Pelicans Comeback

Published on May 9, 2014 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


WOODBRIDGE, VA - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Texas Rangers, were trailing 5-1 in the ninth inning but scored four times on two homers to send the game to extras where they beat the Potomac Nationals 7-5 on Friday night at G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium. Preston Beck tied the game with a two-run blast in the ninth and he and Nick Williams went yard back-to-back in the eleventh to take the lead.

The Pelicans (21-12) were the first team to score on Friday. With the bases loaded and one out, they managed just one run off of Potomac starter Dakota Bacus. Christopher Bostick hit into a double play to score the run, and Jorge Alfaro struck out to end the inning. Both would get their chance at redemption in the final innings.

The Nationals scored the next five runs of the ballgame. After four shutout frames from Pelicans right-hander Sam Wolff, the P-Nats scored three times on four hits in the fifth inning to take a 3-1 lead. Potomac added two more in the eighth off of reliever Will Lamb, getting back-to-back RBI doubles from Stephen Perez and Oscar Tejeda. It was the first time that Lamb had allowed a run all season.

Potomac (18-13) brought on closer Robert Benincasa in the ninth inning to try and finish off the Pelicans. Myrtle Beach had been hitless since the third, but got a leadoff double from Bostick to start the frame. Alfaro then launched a 3-2 pitch to left-center field, hitting the scoreboard to pull within two runs. It was the second home run of the series for Alfaro who now has an eight game hitting streak, tied for the longest this season by a Pelican.

After a strikeout of Joey Gallo, who was 0-for-5 in the contest, and a groundout from Hanser Alberto, the Pelicans were down to their final out. Williams kept the inning alive with a double, and Beck followed with a home run to right field, tying the game.

Abel De Los Santos worked out of a bases loaded jam in the ninth to send the game to extra innings. Myrtle Beach got the go-ahead run to third base in the tenth but couldn't score. In the eleventh, with two outs, Williams blasted a line drive to left field to go ahead. The Pelicans hit back-to-back homers, as Beck followed with his second home run of the game, a towering drive down the right field line. The two long balls marked the first two-homer game of the first baseman's career.

Jason Knapp walked three men in the ninth, but got a double play, and Jose Leclerc retired the final batter for the save, his fourth.

De Los Santos (2-0) won his second game in as many appearances. Gilberto Mendez (1-1) allowed the two eleventh inning runs and suffered the defeat.

Game three of the series at Potomac takes place on Saturday night at 6:35 p.m. Andrew Faulkner (1-0, 1.80 ERA) goes for the Birds against Ian Dickson (1-2, 5.06 ERA). The game can be heard live on WRNN AM 1450 ESPN Myrtle Beach, on the TuneIn Radio App, and via the MiLB First Pitch App, beginning with the Hampton Inn Pregame Show at 6:15 a.m.

The next Pelicans home game is Monday, May 12, when the Birds begin a seven-game homestand with three games against the Winston-Salem Dash. First pitch for Monday night is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Season Seats, Mini Plans, Flex Books, and single game tickets are available to see the Pelicans in 2014. For more information on tickets, please call (843) 918-6002, e-mail info@myrtlebeachpelicans.com, visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com, or visit the Pelicans box office, which is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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Carolina League Stories from May 9, 2014


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