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CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Game Notes: April 8 at Down East

April 8, 2019 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


Today, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans begin a their first road trip of the season as they take on the Down East Wood Ducks (affiliate of the Texas Rangers) in Monday's 7:00 p.m. game. In the first of three games, RHP Erling Moreno (0-0, 0.00 ERA) starts for the Birds against RHP Noah Bremer (0-0, 0.00 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, TuneIn and the MiLB First Pitch app.

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ASSAD STRONG, BUT PELICANS OFFENSE STIFFLED IN LOSS

Javier Assad tossed five strong innings in his start for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Sunday, but it was not enough as the Lynchburg Hillcats took the series finale 3-0 on the Grand Strand. Assad (0-1) was handed the loss, despite allowing only one run over five innings while striking out five. The Hillcats attacked him early when Oscar Gonzalez ripped an RBI double to center in the first inning to grab a 1-0 lead. Gavin Collins added an RBI two-bagger of his own and Trenton Brooks smacked a solo homer in the 3-0 final.

MY OH AMAYA

Miguel Amaya, who is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the Cubs organization by Baseball America and No. 1 by MLB.com, has started off the season on a hot streak. In his first three games, the Pelicans backstop is 3-for-11 with a double, a home run, four RBIs and a .909 OPS. Out of the 10 runs the Birds have put up on the board so far this season, the 20-year-old has accounted for six of them (four RBIs and two runs). He has also pegged two runners attempting to steal in five attempts so far. In 2018 with Low-A South Bend, Amaya hit .256/.349/.403 in 116 games while hitting 21 doubles, 12 home runs and knocking in 52.

WHAT A *START* TO THE SEASON

The starting pitching has been the strong point of the Pelicans staff in the early going. After Alex Lange struggled in his first start on Opening Night (3.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 4 ER), Bryan Hudson, Paul Richan and Javier Assad have combined to be brilliant. Over the last three games, they have allowed only three runs over 13.2 IP (1.97 ERA). Over that span, they have yielded 14 hits, four walks and 12 strikeouts. Erling Moreno, who starts today for the Pelicans, looks to keep the streak going after allowing two runs over his four innings in the exhibition game against Charleston on April 2.

BATS STILL WARMING UP

Through the first series against Lynchburg, the Pelicans only scored 10 runs (2.5/game) over their four contests. The Birds currently rank ninth in batting average (.158) and OBP (.217) in the Carolina League, while placing last in SLG (.200) and OPS (.417). Myrtle Beach has also struck out 47 times, second most in the league, and only homered once, which is tied for fifth in the circuit. Miguel Amaya and D.J. Wilson are tied for the team high in hits with three each over the team's first four games.

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.

RENEWING THE RIVALRY

Since the Wood Ducks entered the Carolina League in 2017, the Woodies and the Pelicans have had some fiercely played games. While Myrtle Beach is 31-20 against Down East over the last two seasons, Down East bested the Pelicans in Myrtle Beach during the 2017 postseason, winning a share of the Mills Cup Championship in a hurricane-shortened season. Out of the 51 regular-season meetings, 32 have been decided by three runs or fewer (63 percent). The Pelicans are 19-13 in those games (10-6 in 2018). In 2017, the Pelicans outscored the Wood Ducks 127-109 in 27 games (average score per game: 4.7-4.0), while the Birds topped them in 2018 as well, 127-102 in 24 games (5.3-4.5). Overall, the Pelicans lead in the run column 254-211 (5.0-4.1).

PELICAN POINTS

Playing, and winning, low-scoring games was a theme of 2018 as well. After April of last year, the Pelicans were 42-19 when they scored three or more runs. When they scored four or more runs, the Birds were 35-9...Since joining with Chicago in 2015, the Birds are 1-2-2 in the Opening Series, with a total record of 9-11 against their first opponent in the opening tilt.

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