CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Heyward, Marcial homer in 6-2 victory over P-Nats

Published on May 16, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Having not scored a run in their last two games at home, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans broke out early and scored methodically to put away a 6-2 victory over the Potomac Nationals in front of 3,762 at BB&T Coastal Field.

Trailing 1-0 after the top of the first, in which Potomac scored its first run of the night on back-to-back two-out doubles by Francisco Plasencia and Chris Marrero, the Pelicans wasted no time in taking their first lead of the series. Cole Miles worked a leadoff walk, stole second and later scored when Jason Heyward reached on a fielder's choice. Heyward advanced to third on a Freddie Freeman single and scored easily when Donell Linares did the same one batter later. The Pelicans sent seven to the plate in the first and ended the frame with a lead they would not relinquish.

Myrtle Beach lefty Jose Ortegano, thrust into a starting role after three straight appearances out of the bullpen, allowed just three hits over four and a third innings, striking out four and walking just one. Ortegano controlled the Nationals lineup and allowed just one more run in the fourth when Plasencia singled to open the inning and came around to score on a Jesus Valdez RBI single. Ortegano wasn't eligible for the win, but fellow southpaw Eric Barrett (1-1) worked an inning and two-thirds out of the bullpen for his first victory of the year.

Heyward opened the third inning with his seventh home run of the season on a ball crushed off the roof of the Myrtle Beach clubhouse in right field. Robert Marcial matched that feat two innings later, leading off the fifth by taking the first pitch he saw from Potomac starter Colton Willems out to the Land Shark Landing bleachers in left for his first homer of 2009. Willems (1-2) went five innings for the P-Nats and surrendered four Pelicans runs on six hits, striking out four with one walk.

The Pelicans tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the seventh aided by some Nationals defensive miscues. Jon Mark Owings's leadoff single turned into a rally starter when he advanced to second on a groundout by Miles and to third on a wild pitch by Potomac reliever Dan Leatherman. Owings scored on a Marcial RBI single. With Marcial aboard and two outs, Heyward singled to center field, and the seemingly-routine bouncing ball got under the center fielder Plasencia's glove and went all the way to the wall. Marcial scored easily from first on the error, but Heyward was thrown out trying to round the bags for an inside-the-park home run, colliding with Nationals catcher Sean Rooney at the plate in a fruitless attempt to jar the ball loose. That play completed the scoring for the evening, giving the Birds a 6-2 lead. The Pelicans scored in all four odd-numbered innings in the win.

In all, three Pelicans relievers combined to polish off the final four and two-thirds innings in the win. Tommy Palica pitched a scoreless ninth, striking out two to preserve the win.

The rubber game of the three-game series comes tomorrow night when Myrtle Beach sends Edgar Osuna to the mound to oppose Potomac's Will Atwood. First pitch for the series finale is set for 6:05 PM with the game to be followed by the second Fireworks Sunday presentation of the season at BB&T Coastal Field. Tickets for the final game of the set are available by calling the Pelicans box office at (843)918-6000 or by visiting the Tickets page at MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

Check out the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Carolina League Stories from May 16, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central