CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Hillcats Walk Off Again, Pelicans Fall In Opener

May 7, 2010 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


LYNCHBURG, VA - The Lynchburg Hillcats didn't lead once on Friday night until the game's final pitch. Unfortunately for the Pelicans, that one was the one to go into the books.

Three Jaye Chapman wild pitches moved the final Hillcats baserunner around the diamond as Lynchburg rebounded from a pair of three-run deficits to claim a 6-5 series-opening win over the Pelicans at Calvin Falwell Field.

The Pelicans led the entire way until the ninth and started their offensive engine in the top of the second. Gerardo Avila doubled to lead off the inning, later scoring on a throwing error charged to Hillcats starter Curtis Partch to give Myrtle Beach a 1-0 lead. In the third, Gerry Rodriguez crushed his fifth home run of the season, and his first since April 18, a two-run, two-out shot that gave the Birds a 3-0 cushion.

Lynchburg cut the deficit to one with a two-run fourth on RBI doubles by Josh Fellhauer and Cody Puckett, but the Pelicans reclaimed the three-run margin with a two-run fifth. Cole Miles led off with a triple and came home to score on a pickoff attempt gone awry and a throwing error charged to Lynchburg third baseman Alex Buchholz. With two outs in the inning, Rodriguez belted his second homer of the night to make it a 5-2 Pelicans advantage.

From there, the Hillcats chipped away. Lynchburg plated a run in the fifth, sixth, and eighth innings to tie the game at five and set the stage for the ninth. Against Chapman (0-1), Neftali Soto singled with one out and went to second base on a two-out wild pitch. There, Lynchburg manager Pat Kelly lifted Soto for pinch runner Jose Gualdron who went to third on another wild Chapman offering. With Devin Mesoraco at the plate, Chapman got a swinging strike three that would have sent the game to extras, but the ball got away from Myrtle Beach catcher Jesus Sucre, and as it rolled to the wall behind home plate, Gualdron came across with the game-winning run.

Hillcats reliever Jordan Hotchkiss (3-0) picked up the victory with a spotless ninth inning of relief. The loss dropped the Pelicans to 8-20 and 1-4 through the first five of a season high-tying seven-game road trip.

This three-game series continues tomorrow evening in Lynchburg. The Pelicans will send lefty Jose Ortegano (1-3, 5.71) against Lynchburg right-hander Brad Boxberger (3-1, 1.44) with first pitch set for 6:05 PM. "Pelican Pregame" presented by the Hampton Inn gets rolling on ESPN Radio The Team with Tyler Maun at 5:45.

The Pelicans return to Myrtle Beach following this road swing with seven at home starting Monday, May 10 against the Kinston Indians. Single game and season tickets, flex books, and mini-plans, are available now through the Pelicans Box Office by calling (843) 918-6000 or (877) 918-TIXX or by visiting the Tickets page at MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

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Carolina League Stories from May 7, 2010


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