CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Game Notes: April 5 vs. Lynchburg

Published on April 5, 2019 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


The Myrtle Beach Pelicans host the Lynchburg Hillcats (affiliate of the Cleveland Indians) in Friday's 7:05 p.m. contest. Today's game features LHP Bryan Hudson (0-0, 0.00 ERA), who starts for the Birds against LHP Adam Scott (0-0, 0.00 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, TuneIn and the MiLB First Pitch app.

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BIRDS DROP SEASON OPENER TO HILLCATS

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans fell in the season opener 14-5 to the Lynchburg Hillcats on Thursday night in front of a sellout crowd at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. In front of 6,599 fans, the Hillcats jumped out in front early with three runs in the second, two in the third and another run in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead. Trailing 8-0 in the sixth, the Pelicans found the scoreboard with a two-run double from Miguel Amaya and an RBI single by Kevonte Mitchell. Though the Birds cut it to a 10-5 deficit heading into the ninth, Lynchburg hit two homers and scored four in the ninth to win 14-5.

BRINGING IN THE BIG GUNS

A new year means many new players in the Pelicans' clubhouse, and this year, there are some big-time prospects on the squad. The Opening Day roster features six top prospects (according to the Cubs Top 30 Prospect Rankings from Baseball America). Catcher Miguel Amaya (No. 2 in Baseball America, No. 1 on MLB.com) leads the pack while shortstop Aramis Ademan (No. 10 in Baseball America, No. 6 on MLB.com) isn't far behind as he returns for his second year in Myrtle Beach. RHP Paul Richan (No. 7 in Baseball America, No. 18 on MLB.com) and RHP Alex Lange (No. 14 in Baseball America, No. 12 on MLB.com) are the two prospects on the bump for the Birds. While they don't come in on MLB.com, outfielders D.J. Wilson (No. 25 in Baseball America) and Jimmy Herron (No. 27 in Baseball America) round out the list for Myrtle Beach.

FAMILIAR FACES IN THE SAME PLACES

The Birds welcome in 10 holdovers from prior years back to Myrtle Beach for Opening Day. LHP Ryan Kellogg is back for his third season on the Grand Strand, while infielder Carlos Sepulveda returns after spending 28 games in Myrtle Beach in 2017 and missing the 2018 season with a right arm injury. On the mound, starters Alex Lange and Bryan Hudson are in baby blue again and relievers Kellogg and Tyler Peyton give some depth to a young bullpen. On the infield, Wladimir Galindo, Aramis Ademan and Yeiler Peguero are all back, while the outfield features a pair of recognizable faces in Kevonte Mitchell and D.J. Wilson.

WELCOME TO THE STEVE LERUD SHOW

After Buddy Bailey held the skipper role for the Birds over the last three seasons, Steve Lerud takes over at the helm in 2019. The new manager offers an interesting juxtaposition from the old, as Bailey is the active winningest manager in the MiLB, while Lerud enters just his second season managing in the minors. Though his first season with short season Low A Eugene ended in a 31-45 (.408) regular season in 2018, the Emeralds blasted through postseason play to win the Northwest League Championship on a walk-off balk. The 34-year-old played in the minor leagues for 13 seasons as a catcher and played nine games for the Phillies between 2012 and 2013. Along the way, he played in Lynchburg in 2007 and 2008.

THE 2018 BATS WERE ASLEEP...

As a new seasons starts, the Pelicans look to rebound from one of their worst offensive seasons in franchise history. The Birds set nine new franchise lows offensively, including batting average (.232), hits (1,013), runs (568), at-bats (4,360), total bases (1,393), doubles (173), home runs (55), extra base hits (249) and RBIs (409). The lack of power was particularly alarming, shattering the previous franchise low in homers (64 in 2013) by nine home runs. Their 55 blasts were the fewest home runs hit by a Carolina League team since the 2016 Salem Red Sox hit 51.

...BUT THE ARMS WERE AWAKE

While the offense struggled in 2018, the pitching staff was brilliant. Led by season-long mainstays Tyson Miller (3.54 ERA, 5th in the Carolina League) and Alex Lange (3.74 ERA, 6th), the starting staff kept the Pelicans in most games with a 3.70 ERA. The bullpen, paced by Mid-Season All-Star Tyler Peyton (3-6, 3.07 ERA in 38 appearances out of the bullpen) owned a stellar 3.20 ERA on the season. The Birds' 3.51 team ERA ranked third in the circuit, trailing the Buies Creek Astros (now Fayetteville Woodpeckers) and the Potomac Nationals. The Pelicans went 16-20 in shutout games on the season.

PELICAN POINTS

After last night, Myrtle Beach is 9-6 on Opening Day in recorded club history (dating back to 2005) and 3-2 as a Cubs affiliate. Since joining with Chicago in 2015, the Birds are 1-1-2 in the Opening Series, with a total record of 8-9 against their first opponent in the opening tilt.

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