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CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Game Notes, April 13 at Down East

April 13, 2018 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


The Myrtle Beach Pelicans look to bounce back from a 16-14 loss to the Wood Ducks with Friday's 7 p.m. contest at Down East. LHP Bryan Hudson (0-1, 7.20 ERA) goes for the Birds against Down East RHP Michael Matuella (0-0, 3.60 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn.

MYRTLE BEACH DROPS THRILLER, 16-14

Myrtle Beach's offense exploded Thursday, but the Pelicans came up short in a wild 16-14 loss to the Down East Wood Ducks at Grainger Stadium. The Birds jumped out to a 5-0 lead in their first at-bats, but Down East got on the board in the bottom of the first. The Pelicans got the run back in the second to make it 6-1. However, the Wood Ducks scored the next five runs of the game, and each side traded a run in the fifth to make it seven-all. Down East took the lead with three in the sixth, but Myrtle Beach scored five in the seventh to go up 12-10. After a four-run Woodies bottom of the seventh, the Pelicans plated a run in both the eighth and ninth innings. However, two insurance runs for Down East in the eighth were fatal for Myrtle Beach.

A DELIRIOUS AFFAIR

Heading into Thursday's series opener with Down East, Myrtle Beach had plated just 17 runs all season. The Pelicans ended up detonating for 14 runs, the club's most since plating 15 on July 30, 2016 at Salem. Unfortunately for the Birds, they ceded 16 tallies, the most the squad has surrendered since yielding 17 at Salem on August 16, 2014. Overall, the 30 combined runs scored by Myrtle Beach and Down East were the most scored in any game in recorded Pelicans history (since the 2005 season). Moreover, last night's contest was the longest nine-inning game for the Birds since at least the 2005 season.

RELIEF FACTOR

Myrtle Beach's bullpen combined for a 1.35 ERA in their first series of the season, surrendering just two runs on eight hits in 13.1 innings against Frederick. However, in the four games since then, Pelicans relievers have been lit up for 22 runs, 19 earned, on 29 hits in 17.2 frames, resulting in a 9.68 ERA. While the club has faced two good offenses, there could also be an interesting trend to explain the sudden struggles. So far, the Birds' bullpen has accounted for 46.3 percent of the club's innings. In comparison, the 2016 and 2017 Pelicans, also managed by Buddy Bailey, accounted for 38.0 and 44.2 percent of the club's frames, respectively. Sure enough, in their set against Frederick, the 2018 Myrtle Beach bullpen walked just two batters in 13.1 frames (1.4 BB/9). Since then, Birds relievers issued 14 free passes in 17.2 innings (7.1 BB/9).

ERROR 503: SERVICE UNAVAILABLE

The 2018 season is just eight games old, but the Pelicans have already committed at least one miscue in every game so far. Thus, Myrtle Beach's consecutive games with an error streak already surpasses their high of seven from last season. The Birds have made multiple miscues in a contest in five of their eight games so far this season, and their total of 16 miscues, the worst mark in the Carolina League. The club's defensive efficiency, which measures how many batted balls put in play that are recorded into outs, is just .640. The 2016 and 2017 Pelicans were at .691 and .689, respectively.

ROAD IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Normally a ballpark the Birds always excel in, Myrtle Beach really struggled in their season-opening homestand at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark, where the club went a combined 281-198 (.587) from 2011-17. Myrtle Beach went just 1-6 against Frederick and Winston-Salem, marking their worst multi-series homestand since August 17-23, 2013, when the Birds were swept in a four-game set by Lynchburg and lost two out of three to Salem. Currently on their first road trip of the season, Myrtle Beach boasts a winning away record in four straight campaigns, compiling a 166-115 (.591) record away from the Grand Strand.

SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE

Myrtle Beach's 16-14 loss to Down East Thursday brought the Birds' record to 1-7, their worst start to a season in recorded club history (since the 2005 season). The Pelicans have recorded the worst run differential in the Carolina League so far this year at -28. Through five games, though, that mark was -15, which precisely matched the 2014 Pelicans, who also opened the lid on their season at 1-4. That Myrtle Beach club rebounded quickly, bringing their record to 7-4 in the second week of the 2014 season.

PELICAN POINTS

Heading into Friday's game, Pelicans skipper Buddy Bailey, in his 30th year as a manager at the Minor League Baseball level, is three wins away from the top 10 in MiLB history. In his coaching career, which began in 1983, the Virginian's legacy also includes six Venezuelan Winter League titles... Young lefty Bryan Hudson starts Friday at Down East.

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