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CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Game Notes, April 19 vs. Down East

April 19, 2018 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


The Myrtle Beach Pelicans begin a four-game series with Thursday's 7:05 p.m. contest against the Down East Wood Ducks from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. RHP Tyson Miller (1-1, 2.25 ERA) takes the bump for the Birds against Wood Ducks RHP Jonathan Hernandez (1-1, 1.00 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, the MiLB First Pitch app and TuneIn.

BUIES CREEK BLANKS MYRTLE BEACH FOR SWEEP

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were shut out 9-0 in Wednesday's series finale, sealing a series sweep for the Buies Creek Astros at Jim Perry Stadium. The Astros jumped all over Myrtle Beach starter Jose Paulino with a seven-run second inning, highlighted by Anibal Sierra's three-run home run. Josh Rojas' RBI single made it 8-0 in the fourth and Luis Payano belted a solo shot in the sixth to finish off the scoring. Pelicans reliever Casey Bloomquist pitched well out of the bullpen, tossing two scoreless frames by pitching around two hits and a walk. The Birds did not help matters in the loss by making three errors. Kevonte Mitchell notched a hit for the sixth straight game.

THAT'S OUR BUDDY

The 2018 campaign is manager Buddy Bailey 30th season as a minor league manager. 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 2,009-1,855 (.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 MiLB history. Stan Wasiak, who managed in the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers' organization, along with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox's systems, respectively, is the minors' all-time wins leader at 2,530-2,314 (.522).

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 10 games since then, Pelicans relievers have been lit up for 39 runs, 36 earned, on 46 hits (10.4 H/9) in 39.2 frames, resulting in a 8.17 ERA. There could also be an interesting trend to explain the sudden struggles. So far, the Birds' bullpen has accounted for 45.3 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 29 free passes in 39.2 innings (6.6 BB/9).

ALL OR NOTHING

Over their four-game series at Down East from April 12-15, Myrtle Beach exploded for 41 runs, their most in a single series in recorded club history (since the 2005 season). The Pelicans notched 51 hits over those four contests. However, the Birds quickly went from an offensive boon to a severe scoring drought. Over their three-game set at Buies Creek immediately afterwards, the Pelicans mustered a total of two runs on eight hits. The last time Myrtle Beach plated two runs or fewer in a series came when they tallied just one over a three-game set against Winston-Salem from July 7-9, 2015.

BROKEN BATS

Buies Creek held Myrtle Beach to no more than four hits in each of the three games during their set, with the Astros recording two shutouts. Thus, just 14 games into the season, the Pelicans, who do rank in the top half of the league in runs scored, have been held to six hits or fewer in eight games. In addition, Myrtle Beach has gone hitless into at least the sixth inning in three contests. The Birds have also been shut out four times, the most in the league. The Pelicans were blanked just six times over their 140-game slate during the 2017 season.

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS

Myrtle Beach's 3-11 start to the season is their worst start to a campaign in recorded club history (since the 2005 season). The Pelicans have suffered series losses in three of their first four sets, and club has already endured two series sweeps, the earliest in a season the Birds have been broomed twice since at least 2005. Myrtle Beach also has 11 losses so far in April, matching their most since dropping 14 April contests in 2010.

PELICAN POINTS

With another walk on Wednesday, infielder Vimael Machin extended his on-base streak to seven games. Machin has an average of .318 (7-for-22) over this stretch, notching a ridiculous 10 walks for a .531 on-base percentage... Over each of his first three outings, Jose Paulino, who took the ball for the Birds last night, has been stung for an inning of at least three runs allowed... So far this season in games decided by three runs or less, the Pelicans are 1-6.

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