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CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Game Notes: August 1 vs. Frederick

August 1, 2019 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


Today, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans finish a three-game set against the Frederick Keys (a Baltimore Orioles affiliate) with the finale beginning at 7:05 p.m. This evening, RHP Javier Assad (3-7, 3.84 ERA) starts for the Birds against LHP D.L. Hall (3-4, 3.52 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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PELICANS FALL TO KEYS BEHIND KNIGHT'S BRILLIANCE

The Frederick Keys received seven strong innings from Blaine Knight in a 5-2 win over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark on Wednesday night. The Pelicans took a 2-0 lead with a pair of RBI singles from Tyler Durna and Grant Fennell. The Keys tied the game in the top of the fifth with RBI knocks from Patrick Dorrian and Zach Jarrett. Following a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the seventh from Dorrian, Jarrett slammed a two-run shot to give the Keys their 5-2 lead. Ethan Roberts and Chad Hockin combined to throw 2.2 shutout innings from the Pelicans bullpen.

THE ENGINES ARE SPUTTERING

After there had been a first-inning run by the Birds or their opponent in seven of their last 10 games, for a total of 15 runs, the Birds have not seen a lot of early scoring in their last two contests. In their last two games, the Keys and Pelicans combined for eight scoreless innings and three scoreless innings before finding the scoreboard. This is coming off of a series in which Myrtle Beach saw 10 combined runs in the first inning over the three games in Salem. Myrtle Beach scored four first-inning tallies in the three game series and Salem put up six. Over 107 games, the Birds have scored 50 runs in the first inning and allowed 73 (a combined total of 1.2 first inning runs per game). The second inning of Pelicans games has seen 188 runs, the most of any inning, followed by 123 in the first inning.

DON'T CRY BECAUSE IT IS OVER, SMILE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED

The Chicago Cubs were busy at the trade deadline on Wednesday and there were two moves that directly impacted the Pelicans. Right-handed pitchers Alex Lange and Paul Richan were sent to Detroit in exchange for right fielder Nick Castellanos. Lange pitched with the Pelicans in 2018 and started this season in Myrtle Beach, but had been brilliant in Double-A Tennessee with a 3.92 ERA over seven starts with the Smokies. Richan was a Mid-Season All-Star in the Carolina League and went 10-5 with a 3.97 ERA over 17 starts with the Birds. The other deal that took from Myrtle Beach was outfielder Jimmy Herron, who was traded to the Colorado Rockies for International Signing Bonus Pool Allotment. Herron hit .220/.320/.336 over 92 games with the Birds.

LIGHT UP THE SKY LIKE IT'S THE FOURTH OF JULY

The Pelicans had their best month of the season in July, going 15-14. Over the month, the Pelicans produced some of their best numbers all season. Offensively, the Birds had season-highs in batting average at .243 (tied for fifth in the Carolina League), doubles with 44 (third) and OPS at .682 (sixth). On the mound, the Pelicans finished second in the Carolina League with a 2.85 ERA, by far a season-best mark in a single month. The Pelicans also finished tied for second in WHIP (1.12).

I CAN GRANT YOU THREE WISHES...

Grant Fennell became the first Pelican this season to collect multiple hits in four-straight games, doing so from July 17-21. In addition to that, has been hot, batting .378 (17-for-45)/.440/.467 with four doubles, eight RBIs, five walks and seven runs scored over his last 13 games. Over that span, he raised his average from .215 to .247 and his OPS from .622 to .677. The former undrafted free agent is hitting .305/.380/.415 after the All-Star Break and has crushed the ball away from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark to the tune of a .855 OPS as opposed to a .496 OPS at home.

SEPULVEDA AMONG THE ELITE

Pelicans second baseman Carlos Sepulveda has been one of the best defensive players in the Carolina League this season. Over 291 total chances, Sepulveda has just committed one error. Among Carolina Leaguers in any position who have played at least 60 games, Sepulveda's .997 fielding percentage leads the league. He is one of two everyday second basemen in Minor League Baseball to have committed just one error and he leads all Carolina League second basemen with 48 double plays turned. The 22-year-old missed part of 2017 and all of the 2018 season with a shoulder injury before returning to the diamond in 2019.

WOULD YOU PLEASE LEGGO MY BALEGO

Cam Balego has been a hot hitter for the Pelicans in the second half of the season. Since the break, he is hitting .278 with an .849 OPS in 38 games. Entering Wednesday, the third baseman is riding a 13-game on-base streak. During that stretch, he is hitting .282/.472/.359 (.831 OPS). He has walked 12 times in the 13 games while striking out just seven times.

PELICAN POINTS

When tied after eight innings of play, following their loss on Tuesday, Myrtle Beach is now 0-10 in those contests. That includes an 0-8 mark at home. In addition, the Birds are just 3-14 in games decided in the final at-bat with a 1-9 record at home in those games...The Birds have fallen in eight of their last 12 games...Today's starter, Javier Assad, makes his third start against the Keys. It's his first at home.

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