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CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Longest Carolina League Game Ends in Tribe Walk-Off

June 12, 2011 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


KINSTON, N.C. - Kinston's Casey Frawley ripped a two-out single to left field to score Roberto Perez with the game-winning run in the bottom of the 23rd inning as the Indians walked off with victory in the longest game in Carolina League history, an epic clash that saw Kinston close its margin to three games back of the Southern Division-leading Pelicans Sunday evening at Historic Grainger Stadium.

An otherwise ordinary Sunday affair went to the ninth with the Indians in front 2-1 before the Pelicans scrapped together a run to hand Kinston's All-Star closer Preston Guilmet his first blown save of the season when Mitch Hilligoss singled with the bases loaded and two outs. David Paisano scored the game-tying run and, with the single on into left field, Santiago Chirino tried to get Myrtle Beach on top, attempting to score from second base. Left fielder Tyler Holt's throw to the plate was more than on the money, however, and the tag by Kinston catcher Roberto Perez sent the game to extra innings.

There it remained for what seemed like an eternity. In a total of six hours and 27 minutes of baseball, the Pelicans and Indians traded zeroes from the tenth through the 22nd with each team squandering opportunity after opportunity. The Pelicans left runners on-board in the 11th, 12th, 17th, 18th, and 23rd and stranded 16 men on-base throughout the day as a team. For Kinston, extra innings were even crueler. The Tribe stranded a combined 11 runners aboard from the tenth through 22nd, but when they needed it most, the home team came through.

Following a leadoff single by Perez in the 23rd, a sacrifice bunt by Justin Toole, and a groundout by Chase Burnette that sent Perez to third, Frawley clinched it. The K-Tribe second baseman smoked his base hit past Pelicans third baseman Mitch Hilligoss to bring Perez, arms raised over his head, across the plate with the winning run. In 66 years of Carolina League baseball, no game has ever lasted longer than game number 36,601.

The teams combined to use 15 pitchers. Pelicans' arms struck out a team-record 32 while Kinston's pitchers whiffed 16. Five Kinston players put their names into the hit column multiple times. David Paisano, one of four Pelicans players with multiple hits, led the way for Myrtle Beach with three knocks.

With the victory, the Indians nailed down a series win over the Pelicans, all games in the series having been decided by one run, and shrunk their division deficit to three games. The Birds' magic number to clinch the first-half title in the Southern Division remains at five. Kinston's Chris Jones (2-0) got the win with two innings of relief. Kasey Kiker (1-2) took the loss for Myrtle Beach in the 23rd.

The Pelicans head to Potomac to take on the Nationals for three games Monday through Wednesday at G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium.

After this six-game road trip, the Pelicans wrap up the Carolina League season's first half with a four-game series against the Frederick Keys from June 16-19 at BB&T Coastal Field. Tickets for all Pelicans home games can be purchased by visiting 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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