CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Game Notes, August 10 at Wilmington

Published on August 10, 2018 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


The Myrtle Beach Pelicans begin a three-game series against the Wilmington Blue Rocks with Friday's 7:05 p.m. contest from TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark. RHP Cory Abbott (2-5, 3.28 ERA) starts for the Birds against Blue Rocks RHP Nolan Watson (6-1, 3.19 ERA). Coverage begins at 6:50 p.m. on MiLB.tv, MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, TuneIn and the MiLB First Pitch app.

LATE COMEBACK ATTEMPT COMES UP SHORT

The Pelicans plated two runs in the eighth Tuesday, but Myrtle Beach could not get any closer in a 3-2 loss to the Winston-Salem Dash from BB&T Ballpark. The Dash opened up the scoring with Luis Gonzalez's two-run home run in the second inning. Yermin Mercedes added an RBI single in the fourth to widen the margin to 3-0. The score remained that way until the eighth inning. Tyler Alamo registered a sacrifice fly to get the Birds on the board. Roberto Caro scored later in the frame on a Winston-Salem error. However, Hunter Schryver pitched a perfect ninth to seal the save for the Dash. Winston-Salem starter Kyle Kubat ceded just two hits in 7.0 shutout innings to earn the win. Jared Young recorded a pair of hits in the loss.

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL

After a six-game winning streak from July 10-16, Myrtle Beach has struggled, losing 16 of their last 20 contests. Over that span, the Pelicans have been outscored 88-49, yielding at least four runs in 13 of those 20 games. For perspective, the Birds had surrendered at least four runs in just four of their previous 17 contests. Myrtle Beach has also scored at least four runs in just five of these last 20 games. The Pelicans have lost seven straight contests for the first time since an eight-game skid from May 25-31, 2013. In addition, with Winston-Salem executing a rain-shortened sweep of the Birds, Myrtle Beach has suffered eight broomings in one season for the first time in recorded club history (through the 2005 season).

ABBOTT AND COSTELLO

After posting a 6.23 ERA in his first three starts with Myrtle Beach, Cory Abbott has surrendered more than two earned runs in just one of his last six starts. During that span, the San Diego native has posted a 2.14 ERA thanks to 11 runs, eight earned, on 27 hits in 33.2 frames. A second-round pick in 2017 out of Loyola Marymount, Abbott has whiffed 33 against 11 walks over this run. Out of the 102 Carolina League pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched, Abbott ranks in the top 25 in both FIP (16th, 3.03) and strikeout percentage (22nd, 25.4 percent). When opponents do put the ball in play, Abbott has suppressed hard contact by posting a 16.0 percent line drive percentage, the

20th-lowest in the circuit.

THOSE DASTARDLY DASH

In their recorded history, which dates through the 2005 season, through 2017, Myrtle Beach had never been swept by a club three times in one season. However, in a dysmal 2018 campaign, the Pelicans have encountered several lows. Thanks to Wednesday's rain out in Winston-Salem, the Dash earned their fourth brooming of Myrtle Beach on the season. The Birds are just 2-12 against the Dash, their worst record against any club in a single season since at least 2005.

FRIENDS CLOSE, ENEMIES CLOSER

Over the Myrtle Beach's last 15 contests, 13 have been decided by three runs or less, including a remarkable 10 by just one tally. On the season, Myrtle Beach has played 72 games decided by no more than three runs, the third-highest total in the Carolina League. The Pelicans are 35-37 (.486) in those engagements. Interestingly, Wilmington has played 75 games determined by three runs or fewer, the most in the circuit. The Blue Rocks are 42-33 (.560) in those games.

YOUNG FOREVER

In the first four games with Myrtle Beach, Jared Young went just 2-for-15 (.133) with an RBI and three walks. However, the Prince George, British Columbia native seems to be starting to figure out the High-A level. Over the last 23 games, he is batting 26-for-82 with two doubles, four home runs, and 13 RBIs to slash .317/.378/.488.

ERROR 404: NOT FOUND

From July 24 through August 1, Myrtle Beach made at least one error in a season-high nine consecutive games, compiling a total 17 miscues during that stretch. The Birds have responded by playing error-free baseball in five of their last six contests, including a season-best five-game errorless streak from August 2-6. The Pelicans have made just one miscue in their last 47 innings.

PELICAN POINT

Myrtle Beach starters have yielded no more than three runs in each of their last six games. However, the club has only posted a 4.06 ERA during that span due to 14 earned runs allowed in 31.0 innings.

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