CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Game Notes: April 9 at Down East

Published on April 9, 2019 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


Today, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans take on the Down East Wood Ducks (affiliate of the Texas Rangers) in Tuesday's 7:00 p.m. game. In the middle contest of the three-game set, LHP Luis Lugo (0-0, 0.00 ERA) starts for the Birds against RHP Jason Bahr (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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WOODIES ERASE FOUR-RUN DEFICIT TO TAKE GAME ONE

The Down East Wood Ducks overcame a four-run first inning for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Monday night to win 12-4 in the series opener from Grainger Stadium. Luke Reynolds' two-run double and Kevonte Mitchell's two-run homer in the first inning gave the Birds an early 4-0 lead, but it evaporated quickly. The Woodies put up two runs in the bottom of the first, four in the third to take the lead and six more in the bottom of the fourth to tack on and make it 12-4. A Yonny Hernandez three-run double in the fourth and three-run home run from Yohel Pozo in the sixth were the exclamation points.

THE HITS KEEP COMING...FOR THEM

The Pelicans pitching staff has allowed an astounding 61 hits through its first five contests (12.2/game). Only the El Paso Chihuahuas (Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres) have ceded more hits (69) through five games so far in the MiLB. For perspective, through 10 games, the Detroit Tigers pitching staff has only allowed 60 hits this season while the Twins, Indians and Pirates have all allowed fewer base knocks in eight, nine and nine games respectively. Through the first five games of 2018, the Pelicans allowed 42 hits, while it took seven games to reach the 61-hit mark.

FAMILIAR TERRITORY

For the Pelicans' starter today, Luis Lugo, it's the third go around in the Carolina League. As a part of the Cleveland Indians organization, he played the entirety of his 2015 and 2016 seasons with the Lynchburg Hillcats. In his High-A career, he has made 51 starts, going 16-15 with a 4.09 ERA. Lugo was selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Cubs in December of 2018.

BATS STILL WARMING UP

Through the first five games of the season, the Pelicans have only scored 14 runs (2.8/game). The Birds currently rank ninth in the Carolina League in batting average (.170), while placing last in OBP (.226), SLG (.229) and OPS (.454). Myrtle Beach has also struck out 57 times, second most in the league (just behind Down East), and only homered twice, which is sixth in the circuit. Miguel Amaya and Kevonte Mitchell are the only two Birds to send a ball over the fence in the first five games. After the Pelicans scored four runs in the first inning on Monday, they were held to just four hits over the next eight frames.

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 31-21 against Down East since they entered the circuit, 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).

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.

PELICAN POINTS

Catcher Tyler Payne came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning last night. In a scoreless frame, he struck out two batters. Payne is the fourth position player in the last two years to take the mound for the Pelicans after Daniel Spingola, Yeiler Peguero, Tyler Pearson and Roberto Caro all pitched in 2018...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.

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