CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Four-Run Seventh Propells Birds Past Nats 7-5

Published on April 17, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Myrtle Beach Pelicans used a four-run seventh inning to spoil the Potomac Nationals home opener at G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge, VA Friday night.

The P-Nats would strike first against Pelicans starter J.J. Hoover, who was making his first professional start. Dan Nelson led off the first inning with a single before coming around to score on a double by Danny Espinosa. The Nationals would add two more in the second, the first on a solo home run off the bat of Francisco Plasencia, and the second on a bases loaded walk to Stephen King which scored Sean Rooney who also walked.

The Pelicans started battling back in the top of the fourth with a single run to pull within two on an RBI single by Freddie Freeman scoring Donnell Linares who reached on a hit by pitch. The Birds evened things up in the fifth when Quentin Davis scored on an RBI single by Cole Miles and a throwing error by Nats shortstop Espinosa allowing Randy Gress to score the tying run.

Potomac reclaimed the lead in the sixth capitalizing on a leadoff walk to Plasencia who came across on a fielder's choice by Rooney. Down 4-3, the Pelicans would go up for good in the top of the seventh stringing together three straight hits off Martin Beno, one, a two-run double by Linares. Two batters later Stephen Shults would single home two runs to put Myrtle Beach up 7-4.

Frederick would get a run in the bottom of the inning but the bullpen would hold for the 7-5 win as the Nationals open Pfitzner Stadium for the 2009 season. Hoover wouldn't figure into the decision for the Birds as Michael Mehlich (1-1) pitched one and two-thirds innings to get the win despite allowing two runs on three hits. Cory Gearrin (S, 3) pitched a perfect a perfect ninth to earn the save while Beno (0-1) took the loss allowing four runs, all earned, on three hits in one and one-thirds innings.

The series continues Saturday night as right hander Brad Meyers opposes Myrtle Beach lefty Jose Ortegano with the first pitch scheduled for 6:35 at Pfitzner Stadium.

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Carolina League Stories from April 17, 2009


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