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CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Game Notes, April 16 at Buies Creek

April 16, 2018 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


The Myrtle Beach Pelicans open up a three-game series with Monday's 7 p.m. contest at Buies Creek. RHP Matt Swarmer (0-1, 3.86 ERA) gets the ball for the Birds against Buies Creek RHP Abdiel Saldana (1-0, 0.00 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn.

GALINDO, ALAMO POWER PELICANS TO WIN

Wladimir Galindo and Tyler Alamo each homered and drove in three runs Sunday to lead Myrtle Beach to a 9-4 win and series split at Down East. The Pelicans got on the board immediately, plating three runs in the first inning. The Wood Ducks answered in the bottom of the first, but in the third, Galindo blasted a two-run shot the opposite way. After a Down East run in the bottom of the third inning cut the tally to 5-2, Galindo looped an RBI single to right and then Alamo socked a three-run home run to pad the Birds' advantage to 9-2. The Wood Ducks added a run in each of the seventh and eighth innings, but it wasn't enough in Myrtle Beach's 9-4 triumph.

BAT-MEN

The Pelicans entered their series with Down East having scored just 17 runs in the season's seven prior games. However, Myrtle Beach's offense exploded against the Wood Ducks. The club put together two 14-run contests in the first four-game set, something they hadn't done once since July 30, 2016 at Salem. In fact, it was the first time the Pelicans had registered a pair double-digit scoring efforts in one series since plating 12 and 15 runs, respectively, over a couple of contests at Winston-Salem from July 16-19, 2016. Overall, the 41 runs the Birds scored in their series at Down East were their most in any series in recorded club history (since 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 (5.4 H/9) in 13.1 innings against Frederick. However, in the seven games since then, Pelicans relievers have been lit up for 31 runs, 28 earned, on 34 hits (9.7 H/9) in 31.2 frames, resulting in a 7.96 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 48.4 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 23 free passes in 31.2 innings (6.5 BB/9).

MAN OR MACHIN?

Pelicans infielder Vimael Machin got off to slow start on the season, posting just one hit in his first six games (1-for-23, .043). However, the San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico native has reached base multiple times in each of the four games since then. Machin is for 7-for-his-last-12 (.583) with three doubles, six RBIs and seven walks for a whopping .737 on-base percentage. In Myrtle Beach's series at Down East, Machin twice tied a career-high with three walks and also matched career-bests in hits (four) and runs scored (three) against the Wood Ducks.

THAT'S OUR BUDDY

The 2018 campaign is manager Buddy Bailey 30th season as a minor league manager, including his 13th with the Cubs' organization and third at the helm of Myrtle Beach. A native of Madison Heights, Va., Bailey is the 11th manager in Minor League Baseball history to accumulate at least 2,000 career victories. According to Baseball Reference, Bailey's 2,009-1,852 (.521) record means he is just one win away from passing Andy Gilbert, who skippered in the New York and San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves organizations from 1950-82, for sole possession of 10th place in Minor League Baseball history.

BACK ON TRACK?

While Myrtle Beach is still 3-8, their worst start to a season in recorded club history (since the 2005 season), the Pelicans are slowly creeping back to the club's standard of excellence. The Birds head into their series with Buies Creek having won consecutive games for the first time all season, earning them their first non-set loss on the campaign. Should Myrtle Beach win Monday at the Astros, the club's 4-8 would equal the 2009 and 2010 squads for the worst 12-game beginning in recorded club history.

PELICAN POINTS

After a run of eight straight games with an error to begin the season, the Birds have gone 27 straight innings without a miscue... The Pelicans have struggled in games decided by three runs or less so far this season, posting just a 1-5 record. In comparison, the club went 46-40 in such contests in 2017.

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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.

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