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CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Lucky 13th Leads Pelicans To 6-5 Marathon Win

June 22, 2007 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


SALEM, VA - Jose Camarena bounced the game-winning single over the first base bag in the top of the 13th inning and Kevin Gunderson then stranded runners on the corners in the bottom of the frame as Myrtle Beach toppled Salem 6-5 in the opening game of the second half, in what was a marathon in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Pelicans improved to 1-0 in the second half and 31-39 overall, while Salem fell to 0-1 and 41-29.

The Myrtle Beach offense caught a break on the very first play of the game when lead-off hitter Jordan Schafer drilled a hard ground ball over the mound that hit the bag at second and glanced into left field. The lucky bounce allowed Schafer to reach with a single to get the second half of the season started with a spark. After Schafer moved to second on a ground out to second by Elvis Andrus, Eric Campbell knocked an RBI single into centerfield to put the Birds on top, 1-0.

Salem plated a run in the bottom of the second to tie the game at a one run apiece, but the Pelicans came right back with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning and again the combo of Schafer and Campbell would play a major role in the scoring. Schafer would reach on a one out single, move to second on a bunt down the first base line laid down by Elvis Andrus, and then trotted across the dish when Campbell blooped a single into centerfield, giving the Pelicans a 2-1 edge. One batter later, Isaiah Ka'aihue drove in Andrus with a sacrifice fly to deep left field, pushing the lead to 3-1.

The Avalanche responded in the bottom of the third inning by virtue of back-to-back run-scoring doubles. With two outs, Ryan Reed drew a walk, which was quickly followed up by a double to right by Billy Hart, which brought Reed in to score. Hart would then come in to tie the score, 3-3, thanks to an RBI double down the left field chalk smacked by Justin Tellam.

Salem seized their first lead of the game, 4-3, in the bottom of the fourth, when Mark Ori delivered a two-out RBI single, which scored Wladimir Sutil, who reached on an error earlier in the inning.

Myrtle Beach didn't trail for long and clawed their way back in the top of the sixth inning with a two-out rally of their own. A single from Matt Young followed by an RBI double to right field off the bat of Paul Bennett tied the game once more, 4-4. Two innings later the Birds regained the lead as Campbell led off with a rocket of a line drive to deep centerfield against the wall, which was controversially ruled as an error on Salem's Orlando Rosales. Campbell would advance to third on a pop out in foul grounds down the right field line from Ka'aihue before stepping on home plate with the go-ahead run on an RBI single chopped through the middle of the infield by Young making it 5-4.

Just when the late-lead looked safe Salem tied the game one more time. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Reed launched a solo homer over the right field wall, tying the contest, 5-5, to force extra innings.

The two Southern Division rivals would battle deep into the night, but in the top of the 13th the previously 0-for-5 Jose Camarena turned what was a difficult evening at the plate into a memorable one as he singled down the right field line, which brought Young in from second with the eventual game-winning run, 6-5. Young had led the inning off with a base knock to spark the rally. After reliever Adam Stanley (W, 2-1) picked up an out in the 9th before Kevin Gunderson came on to earn the save by recording the final two outs including a strike out of Eric King to end the game.

Salem reliever Rory Shortell (L, 4-3) suffered the loss after allowing the game-winning run in the top of the 13th. The Pelicans were led at the plate by three-hit efforts from Schafer and Young along with two-hit performances from Campbell and Roberto Alvarez.

The Pelicans continue their road trip on Friday evening at 7:07 p.m. in game two of a three-game series against the Salem Avalanche. The Pelicans will send LHP Jonny Venters (0-2, 3.69) to the mound against Salem RHP Raymar Diaz (4-4, 4.36). The game broadcast begins at 6:45 p.m. with the RSC Equipment Rental pre-game show on ESPN Radio the Team (93.7 FM, 93.9 FM, and 1050 AM) and online at www.myrtlebeachpelicans.com. For more information, please call the Pelicans at (843) 918-6002.

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