CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Game Notes, August 26 at Down East

Published on August 26, 2018 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


The Myrtle Beach Pelicans wrap up their three-game series at the Down East Wood Ducks with a 2 p.m. contest. RHP Erich Uelmen (3-3, 5.00 ERA) starts against LHP Tyler Thomas (0-0, 1.13 ERA). Coverage begins at 1:45 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, TuneIn and the MiLB First Pitch app.

WOOD DUCKS EASE BY BIRDS WITH BIG INNINGS

Down East pummeled Myrtle Beach 16-0 on Saturday from Grainger Stadium. The Wood Ducks were able to plate runs in just three innings, but the club tallied three in the first, five in the fifth and eight in the eighth to match the most runs Myrtle Beach has allowed in a game this season. In the first inning, Yanio Perez drew a bases-loaded walk, Ricky Valencia notched a sacrifice fly and Alex Kowalczyk hit an RBI single to make it 3-0. A pair of two-run homers from Andretty Cordero and Kowalczyk, as well as an error, brought in the five Woodies runs in the fifth. In the eighth inning, Cordero blasted a two-run double before another miscue brought in a Down East run. The inning also saw two bases-loaded walks and a two-run single by Leody Taveras.

20 QUESTIONS

The Pelicans' 16-0 loss on Saturday marked the 20th time the club has been shut out this season, far and away the most in the league. In fact, second-place Lynchburg's 13 blankings are closer to the lowest total of seven by Buies Creek and Winston-Salem than they are to Myrtle Beach. The 20 shutout losses by the Birds are a club record and the most in the Carolina League since Wilmington suffered 20 blankings in 2015.

BROKEN BATS

During the month of August, the Birds are batting just .204/.284/.271 to post a .565 OPS, far below their league-worst mark on the season of .631. Over the first 23 games of August, Myrtle Beach has mustered just 27 extra-base hits. The Pelicans are also a woeful 32-for-169 (.189) during the month with runners in scoring position, plating a total of 59 runs (2.6 per game) in August.

START SPREADING THE NEWS

Over the last 22 games, Myrtle Beach starting pitchers have ceded three earned runs or less 20 times. During that span, the club's starters have pitched a total of 105.1 innings, yielding 43 earned runs on 87 hits for a 3.67 ERA. The Birds' bullpen has started to heat up recently as well; After posting a 6.38 ERA due to 13 runs, all earned, on 27 hits in 18.1 frames in the seven games from August 2-11, Pelicans relievers have allowed 21 runs, 12 earned, on 45 hits in 54.1 innings (1.99 ERA) over the last 13 contests.

A NIGHT TO FORGET

The eight runs Down East scored in the eighth inning on Saturday was the worst frame for Myrtle Beach since the Birds surrendered nine runs in the fourth inning to Buies Creek on May 4, 2017. The Wood Ducks' monstrous frame also turned Saturday's contest into a 16-0 rout, equaling the most runs the Pelicans surrendered on the season. Prior to this year, Myrtle Beach had not yielded that many runs in a contest since the Salem Red Sox erupted for 17 runs on August 16, 2014. Saturday's 16-0 loss was the Pelicans' largest margin of defeat in the club's recorded history, which dates back through the 2005 season.

SALTY, NOT SWEEP

Myrtle Beach heads into Sunday's series finale at Down East with losses in four of their last five games, including three straight. The Pelicans' 16-0 defeat on Saturday dropped the club 15 games below .500, matching a season-worst. It also stopped a four-series streak without a loss. If the Birds are clipped on Sunday, it would mark the ninth sweep of the club in 2018; Myrtle Beach had never been broomed even eight times in a season until this year in their recorded history (through 2005).

KEEP YOUR ENEMIES CLOSE

Over the Pelicans' last 31 contests, 26 have been decided by three runs or less, including a remarkable 21 by just one tally. In the 100 battles prior to this run, the Birds had played in just 20 one-run games. On the season, Myrtle Beach has played 85 games decided by no more than three runs, tied for highest total in the Carolina League. The Pelicans began the year 10-3 (.769) in one-run contests, but have gone 8-20 (.286) in those engagements ever since.

PELICAN POINTS

The Birds have hit just 53 home runs this season, and the club is on pace for just 57 long balls this year. That mark would be the lowest in club history (64 homers, 2013)... Myrtle Beach has made an error in nine of their last 11 games, including five straight... Christian Donahue has reached base in seven of his first 14 plate appearances with the Pelicans, bashing a pair of homers in the process... Following Sunday's series finale with Down East, the Birds begin a four-game set Monday against Buies Creek.

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